THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505180375
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 42 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BARCO LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Throughout the 21-game winning streak by Currituck County's baseball team, a different player or group of players seems to come up with the big play. There were several heroes in the Knights' 20th and 21st wins.
Against Edenton-Holmes last Friday, Alan Lawrence tossed a five-inning one-hitter with 11 strikeouts and the Knights pounded out 12 hits to down Edenton-Holmes 11-0.
Lawrence was sparkling on the mound. The only hit he allowed was a single by designated hitter Wayne Sawyer in the third inning.
The Knights opened up the game early off Edenton starter Clell Morgan. Currituck scored three runs in the first on an RBI triple down the right field line by John Dough, an RBI single lined up the middle by Justin Hill, and an RBI single laced to left center by Mike Weatherly.
In the third inning, the Knights jumped out to a 7-0 lead, aided by four Edenton errors. Jeremy Byrum drove in a run with a long double to center, and Ken Simmons drove in a run with a groundout.
In the Currituck fourth, Lawrence whacked a solo homer to right center, his second in two games. In the fifth, Brian Willoughby plated a run with a single to center, Lawrence drove in a run with a double to the fence in center, and pinch hitter John Fuller knocked in a run with a single for the 11-0 lead.
Currituck head coach Billy Stallings said Friday's game was one of Currituck's best offensive outputs of the season.
``We came out and hit the ball early. Other than a couple of games early in the season, it's the best we've hit the ball,'' Stallings said.
On Tuesday, Currituck County broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning and Cory Scott hurled a five-hitter as the Knights knocked off Plymouth 9-1.
Scott, who earlier in the day signed a letter of intent to play baseball next season at Pitt Community College in Greenville, struck out 12 despite feeling under the weather.
``I had an upset stomach. It was all the excitement, I guess,'' Scott said. ``I was feeling kind of sick but I knew in the late innings I had to battle.''
Scott upped his record to 11-0 on the season and 43-7 in his career at Currituck.
Currituck head coach Billy Stallings was pleased with his team's play up and down the lineup.
``We talked about it all year long - this is a team game,'' he said. ``Everyone is going to have to contribute at some point. We took advantage of their mistakes tonight, that's a sign of a good baseball team.''
The Knights who clinched the Northeastern Conference championship with the victory over Edenton, are the top seed from the conference in the 2A state playoffs. Currituck plays Ayden-Grifton at home at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the first round. by CNB