Spring Break interrupts games' rhythm

Spring Break has long been the achilles heel of Pee Dee Academy spring sports. True to form, 2009 was no different. Both the Golden Eagles baseball and softball teams showed flashes of brilliance on April 21 when they traveled to Lake City to take on Carolina Academy. But, stiff play that led to errors and lack-luster play came back to bite them in the end.

Bill Rogers' softball team demonstrated defensive genius through five innings in support of senior starter, Christen Bucy. However, the bats were silent for the most part and through three innings, the game was scoreless.

In the top of the fourth, Pee Dee grabbed the first lead. A lead-off single between first and second by Caroline Shelley followed by a steal and a sacrifice had a runner on third with two outs. Then, Bucy aided her own cause, aided by some sloppy defense by the Bobcats. Bucy rolled a bouncer toward first that took and in-between hop and eluded the Carolina first-sacker and Shelley scored to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 1-0 through three and a half.

The Carolina Academy Bobcats responded by getting their lead-off runner on base in the bottom half, but Bucy induced three straight grounders that the infield turned into outs. In the top of the fifth, Daleigh Huggins reached on a lead-off single, but was stranded at second.

Carolina was retired 1-2-3 in their half of the fifth and then the Golden Eagles padded their lead. Lee Pittman drew a one-out walk and stole second. Then, Summer Collins came up with the big hit, launching an RBI double in the left-centerfield gap. This allowed Pittman to score and Pee Dee lead 2-0 going to the bottom of the sixth.

It looked as though the Golden Eagles would hold the lead into the seventh as the first two Bobcat batters were retired. But, a walk was followed by back-to-back RBI hits by Carolina and they had tied the game.

An error and two hits later, the Bobcats had a 4-2 lead. And, when the Golden Eagles went down without scoring in their half of the seventh, Carolina had stolen the game 4-2 and most likely, the region title. Collins went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the loss.

Pee Dee's baseball team split a pair of region games last week as they traveled to Carolina and dropped an 8-3 decision.

The Golden Eagles fell behind 4-1 early, but stayed in the ball game with some spectacular defensive play. Charlie Fincannon threw one Bobcat runner out at the plate as Will Daniels hung tough to apply the tag.

Another great defensive play appeared to have a runner out at the plate, but a poor call allowed another Carolina run to score. Dennis Moore took it upon himself to draw Pee Dee closer as he led off the fourth inning with a hit, stole second, then third and scored on a sacrifice.

But, Carolina was quick to respond, answering with a run in the fourth and putting the game away with three in the sixth. Kevin Thomas threw well, getting nine strikeouts, but took the loss on the hill. Storm Page led the Golden Eagles offense with a pair of hits.

Pee Dee did get one back later in the week, defeating King's at home by a 3-1 score. They will enter the state playoffs more than likely this week at a site to be determined.

The Golden Eagles softball team will finish out its regular season schedule this week, hosting Florence Christian on Friday. They will head to the playoffs which will begin in Lexington next Friday.