Greene Central Blanks Vikings 10-0

            The Greene Central varsity baseball team blanked Kinston 10-0 in a non-conference contest on Wednesday, March 5^th in Snow Hill.

            The Rams improved to 3-0 with the victory.   Greene Central will host Spring Creek on Tuesday, March 18^th and South Central on March 19^th.  Both games will begin at 4:30.   The Rams open play in the George Whitfield Easter Invitation on Saturday, March 22^nd at 4:00 p.m.

            "I thought we were really ready to go at the start.   Our bench was into the game.   We were able to get on them early, but I think we lost our focus late because we didn't score after the first inning.    You have to give their reliever credit;  he did a good job of shutting us down," said GCHS head coach Scott Jones.

            Senior third baseman led the Greene Central offense with a 2-3 performance that included three RBI's.   Junior catcher Alex Brann also went 2-3 and drove in two runs.  Junior Justin Everett also turned in a pair of hits for the winners.

            "Alex, Chris, and Trey Beaman really swung the bats well for us today and hit some hard balls," said Coach Jones.

            Senior Scott Murphy took the win on the mound in relief of starter Jasper Jones.   Murphy pitched two innings, allowing one hit and one walk.    Jones pitched the first two innings, allowing one hit while striking out two.   Junior Justin Everett pitched the final inning for the Rams, retiring three out of the four batters he faced with one walk.

            "Jasper Jones did a better job in his second outing on the mound.   I think he'll continue to get better with experience," said Coach Jones.

            Jones gave up a one-out single in the top of the first inning, but came back with a strikeout and a harmless fly ball to center field to end the threat.

            Greene Central exploded for 10 runs in the first inning to put the contest away early.

            Center fielder Michael Speedy led off with a walk and went to second on a passed ball.   He scored on a single by Alex Brann.   Senior shortstop Trey Beaman walked before senior third baseman Chris Leggett delivered a two-run double to put the Rams up 3-0.    Jasper Jones and Justin Everett followed with walks.    One out later senior left fielder Ryan Letchworth slapped a single into left field to drive in two more runs.   One out later Michael Speedy walked for the second time in the inning before Alex Brann drove in another run with a double.   Trey Beaman followed with a two-run double to put the Rams up 9-0.   Chris Leggett's RBI single brought home the tenth and final run of the inning.

            The Rams had a few more scoring opportunities.   Junior second baseman Justin Everett led off with a single in the second inning, but was stranded by a fielder's choice, a grounder back to the pitcher, and a strikeout.  Everett reached on an infield single with one out in the fourth inning but was stranded by a fielder's choice and a strikeout.

            The game was called after five innings due to the "mercy" rule.