Whiteville survives elimination in NCHSAA finals

ZEBULON, NC (NCHSAA) – The Whiteville Wolfpack powered their way to an 8-3 victory and forced a decisive game three for the 2A State Championship Series. The Wolfpack got a strong complete game performance from their ace, Brooks Baldwin, to push the series to the final game.

Whiteville struck quickly, pushing across a run in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single by Logan Hooks that scored Jake Harwood. Both teams stayed quiet until the top of the first when Whiteville tacked on two more runs to stretch their lead to 3-0. Earl Grubbs singled to left field scoring Joey Kurtyka. Then Matthew Smith doubled to center, plating Dylan Hamilton, but Grubbs was tagged out at the plate for the third out of the inning.

Ledford responded in the bottom of the fourth with Noah Soles singling in Chris Villaman to get the Panthers on the board, trimming the lead to 3-1. Whiteville managed to limit the inning, giving up another run, but turning a 6-4-3 double play to grab two outs and make the score 3-2.

The Wolfpack struck for two runs in the fifth, Brooks Baldwin rounded the bases on an inside the park homer to right to lead off the frame and make it 4-2. Whiteville added one more as Logan Hooks plated Jake Harwood on a sacrifice fly to give the Wolfpack a 3-run lead.

Ledford managed to scrape one more run across, trimming the lead back to two in the bottom of the fifth as Chris Villaman doubled home Cameron Mills with two outs. Baldwin cruised the remainder of the way, finishing his pitching day with a complete game, allowing 3 earned runs with five hits and eight strikeouts.

Whiteville added three more runs in the top of the sixth, as they stretched the lead to 8-3, holding on for the game two victory. Ledford fell to 29-4 on the year, snapping a 9-game winning streak. Whiteville improved to 28-2 on the season, forcing a decisive game three at Five County Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in Zebulon.