Sports Correspondent
Van Holland
TARBORO —
LEGGETT – The North Edgecombe Warriors were able to take advantage of 22 stolen bases Tuesday against the Northampton-East Rams in Tar-Roanoke Conference action to help them get revenge from an earlier loss to the Rams this season as the Warriors went on to defeat the Rams 12-9.
The Warriors improve to 5-5.
The Warriors blew the game open in the third inning when they sent 10 batters to the plate and were able to score five runs on just three hits. The Warriors took advantage of four Rams errors in the inning as well. Denzell Lucas started the inning off when he reached on an error by the Rams shortstop. Lucas then stole second and third on two consecutive pitches. Darrius Phillips then drove in Lucas when he grounded out the first base. Donnell Lucas then reached on an error by the third baseman. He stole second and third on consecutive pitches as well. Mark Moore then drew a walk and Moore rounded first and took off for second. The Rams catcher walked towards the mound while Moore was advancing to second and Lucas sprinted towards home plate and out ran the catcher to score. Moore then advanced to third and the catchers throw to third went into left field and Moore was able to score. After Morris Armstrong grounded out to third for the second out, Montrel Cherry then reached on an error by the first baseman. He stole second and third on consecutive pitches. Tevin Wells then drew a walk. Devonte Lloyd then hit a line drive to left field to score Cherry. With runners on second and third, Chris Green laid down a bunt that rolled past the pitcher and Wells was able to score to give the Warriors a 8-1 lead.
Moore started on the mound for the Warriors. He was on cruise control until the fourth inning. He gave up three runs to the Rams in the inning, when Trevin Jacobs drove in two runs with a single and Devontre Richardson drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to left field to cut the Warriors lead to 8-4.
The Warriors scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when Moore and Armstrong had back to back RBI singles to give the Warriors a 10-4 lead.
The Warriors would score two more times in the sixth when Donnell Lucas and Cherry both had RBI singles to give the Warriors a 12-4 advantage.
In the top of the seventh inning the Warriors head coach Reggie Bess decided to change pitchers. He relieved Moore with Armstrong. Moore threw six innings giving up four runs on three hits. He walked five and struck out two.
Armstrong ran into some trouble and the Rams were able to score five runs, before Armstrong could get out of the inning and help the Warriors seal the win. He walked five batters, hit two and the Warriors committed two errors.
Phillips led the Warriors offensively going 3-4 with two RBI and a triple. Lloyd had two hits and an RBI, while Denzell Lucas collected two hits. Moore and Cherry both had a hit apiece with an RBI.
North Edgecombe will be back in action Thursday when the travel to Kipp Pride to play at 4:30 p.m.
