Eagles advance, set new school record

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Eastern Alamance's baseball team struggled at times for hits during the season.  But when it needed their offense the most, the Eagles came through in a big way.  EA raked 18 hits on the way to a 9-6 first round victory over the Ledford Panthers Friday night.

With the victory the Eagles broke the school record for victories in a season improving to 18-8 on the season.

Nick Monroe earned the complete game victory.

After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning the Eagles jumped ahead in the third.  Cody Curry singled to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on a Ledford balk before senior Jake Wood drove him in with an rbi single to left field.  Another balk moved Wood to second before Zack Littell reached on an infield single.  Monroe then singled up the middle plating both runs for a 3-1 lead.

The lead was shortheld however as Ledford responded with a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning again knotting the game up.

The Eagles would take the lead for good in the fifth inning when Monroe doubled with one out before Robbie Lanier delivered an RBI single to put EA ahead.  Mike Waters then singled and Ridge Eaton follwed in kind with a rbi infield single.

It was the seventh inning that saw the Eagles do the most damage as Eastern loaded the bases with no outs to start the inning.  Lanier reached on a leadoff single, Waters singled to right before Ledford changed pitchers and intentionally walked Eaton bringing up the designated hitter Robert Llayton.  Llayton responded with a ground rule double plating Lanier and Waters.  Jake Wood followed a couple batters later with another hit to drive in two more runs giving the Eagles a 9-3 cushion headining into the final three outs.

They needed it.

Ledford scored three runs on a bases clearing double to close the gap to three and again loaded the bases with two outs, bringing up the potential winning run to the plate.  Monroe responded with a three pitch strikeout to end the threat and the game.

Eastern Alamance will make the short trip to Orange High School next Tuesday night for the second round game with the Panthers.