TARBORO —
PINETOPS – The Tarboro Vikings went into Tuesday's game against the SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars with one thing in mind and that was to keep the Cougars off of the bases and to keep their winning streak alive. Tarboro accomplished the second goal and defeated SouthWest 8-2 in an Eastern Plains Conference matchup.
This was the Vikings third win without senior Chase Johnson. Tarboro head coach Justin Smith was pleased with his teams overall performance, but was not happy about his team leaving runners on base and in scoring position. Tarboro left seven runners on base throughout the game and six of them were in scoring position.
"We have to execute with runners in scoring position," Smith said. "We are leaving to many runners stranded on base. We can't continue to do that going into the playoffs, because it could cost us a game."
Tarboro kept the Cougars off of the bases through three innings. Will Dupree started on the mound for Tarboro and was the winning pitcher. He didn't allow a base runner until the fourth inning, when he hit Nick Webb with a pitch. The first hit of the game for SouthWest came in the fifth inning, when Damien Bryant hit an 0-2 pitch to center field for single to break up Dupree's no-hitter.
SouthWest scratched two runs across in the sixth inning, when Webb hit a ground ball to Travis Martin at shortstop and the ball bounced off of Martin's arm into left-center. The error allowed Justin Letchworth and Stephen Thompson to score. Letchworth was walked to lead off the inning and Thompson followed with a double to right-center.
"We didn't hit the ball early and that hurt us," Cougars head coach Tommy Tolson said. "If we had come out and hit the ball earlier in the game we could have made it a ball game. The errors also hurt us as well, but that has been the thorn in our side all year long."
Dupree threw 5 1/3 innings giving up two runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out eight.
"Will had a fantastic performance for us," Smith said. "I had faith in him and gave him the ball to go out and give us some good innings. He did and got the us the win. He kept the hitters off balance most the game which helped him get ahead in the count early on hitters."
Tarboro jumped on the Cougars early, but blew the game open in the fourth inning when Tyler Wooten hit a double to right-center to drive in three runs to give Tarboro a 4-0 lead.
Tarboro rallied with two outs to score three runs in the fifth as well. Austin Holland singled with one out to start the rally. Keith Williams followed with a single, then Corey Baker struck out. With two outs, Dupree drew a walk, then Layne Brewer hit a hard ground ball and Cougars first baseman Philip Webb let the ball bounce off his arm into right field and Holland and Williams scored. Brewer tried to advance to second and SouthWest pitcher Chris Owens cut the throw off from right field and got Brewer in a run down between first and second. Brewer was able to stay in the run down long enough to let Dupree score to give Tarboro a 7-0 lead.
Owens threw a complete game for the Cougars giving up eight runs on 12 hits. He walked two and struck out six. The defense committed three costly errors behind Owens, which allowed Tarboro to score five runs.
"Chris struggled early, but sometimes it takes him a while to get settled in," Tolson said. "He settled down began to throw first pitch strikes and caught the Tarboro hitters off balance. I thought he threw the ball well though."
Tarboro has a big game Friday at 7 p.m. at Farmville Central. It is their final regular season game, which could possibly shake things up in the conference standings if Tarboro wins. If Tarboro wins they will be guaranteed at least second place in the conference. If Tarboro wins and North Pitt loses then the Vikings will move into first place and win the conference.
"We are just going to go out there and play as hard as we can," Smith said. "We are going to let the scenarios take care of themselves. We are glad we have clinched a playoff spot already, but we want to move up in the standings and hopefully get a home playoff game. We are going to let things fall where they may and take it from there."
SouthWest will be back in action Friday as well when they host the Kinston Vikings. This will be the Cougars final game of the season and it will be senior night. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Sports
Related Photos
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Tarboro Vikings senior catcher Tyler Wooten blocks a wild pitch in the sixth inning, while SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars junior Stephen Thompson holds up on his swing. Thompson had one hit in the game.
Tarboro cruises past Cougars; wins 8-2
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Chatt wins NC East District tourney
SouthWest Edgecombe Cougar Ryan Chatt recently won the North Carolina East District golf tournament through the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. The match was held at Scotch Meadows Country Club in Laurinburg.
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Diver with Tarboro ties named academic all-America
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Ryan Hawkins, a rising senior at Virginia Tech University and grandson of Archie R. Hawkins of Tarboro, has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America At-Large team.
Hawkins, a diver, earned a spot on the third team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. -
Tarboro beats SouthWest 16-11
Tarboro and SouthWest battled it out Friday night in the 15-under Nash County Babe Ruth League at Municipal Stadium. It was a game that included 30 walks, 13 errors and 27 runs scored. Tarboro was able to hold on and win 16-11.
SouthWest, who is winless this year, fought back time and time again and took advantage of 18 walks and the six errors Tarboro committed. SouthWest has a team filled with 13 and 14-year olds playing against older players. They were able to hold their own though and take advantage of different situations. -
Jones, Pittman starting new semi-pro team in Tarboro
If you had a dream of playing professional football, but were never given the chance out of high school or college, now is the time for you to become a professional.
Three citizens in the community came up with the idea to organize a semi-pro football team and came up with the team name, East Carolina Buccaneers.
Mike Jones and Marty Pittman are co-owners of the organization. -
LITTLE TARHEEL CHAMPIONS
Pizza Inn won the Little Tarheel League baseball championship through the Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department. They had a 10-1 record this season and in the last six seasons, Pizza Inn has won six straight titles and have a record of 66-13. Members of the championship team are from left to right, kneeling, Deshawn Moss, Clark Dupree, Ricardo Hernandez, Seth Paramore, Landon Riley, Eric Moss and Tobais Joyner. Middle row, Hunter Gardner, Mason Riley, Justin Rameriz, Mike Wiggins, Eli Williamson, Eric Jones and CJ Joyner. Back row, coaches Ken Oliver, Mike Riley, Bo Dupree, Nick Oliver and Bill Howerin.
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Tars drop season opener 8-7 to Nash County
Fielding errors and throwing errors played a big part in the Tarboro Tars season opener loss Tuesday night at Municipal Stadium. Nash County defeated the Tars 8-7 in the Coastal Plains Senior Babe Ruth league opener.
Tarboro trailed three times in the game and twice they made comebacks. After the second comeback, they took the lead, but that didn't last long after the Tars defense fell apart. -
New punishments need to be added in MLB
The main question remains about Major League Baseball. Why do the same players names continue to appear when it comes to using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs)?
Last year, Commissioner Bud Selig said that they were going to crack down on drug testing, but the fact is how many players have been tested so far through this season? -
10 Under Champs
The Riptide won the 10-under girl's softball league through the Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department. They finished the season with a 7-2-1 record. Pictured from left to right, kneeling, Hannah Scott, Autumn Partain, Rena Harris, Kaliyah Lynch, Hailee Whitehurst, Hailey Boyette, second row, Sarah Harrell, Carly Webb, Taylor Williams, Alysia Braswell, Ziniya Tillery, Yasmine Shannon. Back row, Coaches Van Webb, Ken Williams and Ross Whitehurst.
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Tarboro Parks and Recreation scores
The following scores are from the baseball and softball leagues played at Indian Lake Sports Complex through the Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department.
Baseball
Little Tarheel League
Pizza Inn 14 WRL Farms 4
Leading hitters – Pizza Inn – Justin Rameriz 4-4, Hunter Gardner 3-3, Mike WIggins 2-3, Eli Williamson 2-3, Tobias Joyner 1-1 WRL Farms – Ryan Scott 2-2, Layton Dupree 2-2, Tanner Wittig 1-2, Dillon Johnson 1-2 -
Thorne chosen to play in Powerade game
Tarboro Lady Vikings soccer phenom Shayla Thorne has added another accolade to her credentials. She was one of 19 players selected to play in the Powerade State Games on the 2013 East women's team.
She won't be the only one from Tarboro participating in the state games, because Tarboro coach Leshaun Jenkins was also named the head coach of the women's East team. - More Sports Headlines
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