THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 23, 1995 TAG: 9504200214
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 27 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: HERTFORD LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Currituck County's Cory Scott proved this past week that he's not just a great pitcher. Not only did he toss a 1-0 shutout over Perquimans County in the Perquimans Easter Invitational, he picked off two baserunners, started a rally-killing double play, and drove in the game's only run.
Currituck, which went into the game at 12-0, had downed Perquimans twice this season, but the teams played a playoff-caliber game. The Pirates' Clint Eley, a lanky up-and-coming sophomore hurler, matched Scott pitch for pitch.
The Pirates threatened to score first in the bottom of the third. Leary Winslow led off the inning by lining a single to right field. Michael Salvatore followed with a sacrifice bunt moving Winslow to third. Brock Nixon beat out an infield hit to put runners at first and third with one out. Donnie Markham sent a screaming liner back at Scott. Scott snagged the line drive and doubled Nixon at first to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Currituck's Allen Lawrence hit a high double to left field which just fell fair. Scott lined a triple past first baseman Mark Clinkscales to score the game's only run. After the game, Scott said he had been working at hitting the ball to the opposite field. The outside pitch from Eley was perfect material.
In the bottom of the fourth, Scott got out of another potential jam. With one out, Eley reached base on an infield hit and moved to second on a wild pitch. A ground out by A.J. Miller moved him over to third. But Scott caught Eley napping off third for the final out.
``He's worked on that it (the pickoff move),'' said Currituck head coach Billy Stallings.``He varies it. The guys (playing the bases) help him out a lot also.''
Scott continued to get stronger. In the Perquimans fifth, he threw just nine pitches to strike out the side.
``He really stepped it up a notch in the fifth, sixth, and seventh,'' Stallings said. ``The nine pitches in the fifth inning was the reason he stayed in.''
The Knights' play behind Scott was flawless as the team cruised to its 13th straight win. Scott's personal winning streak reached seven games.
Including the win over Perquimans, the Knights have won six one-run games this year. With only three seniors on the team, the Knights have kept a tradition of winning baseball alive in Currituck.
``Our sophomores have played a whole lot,'' said Stallings. ``We've played good defense and we've had our share of luck.''
``The sophomores are really stepping up to the pressure,'' Scott said after the game.``13-0 is unbelievable. It's really great. I hope we can take a loss as good as a win.'' by CNB