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After winning three games in a row, the ‘Canes ran up against the number-one team in the conference Friday afternoon. If they wanted to see where they stood in the Tar-Roanoke Conference, playing Louisburg was a good measuring stick. Northampton-West found out they have some things to work on after falling to the Warriors 17-4.
“Louisburg is a good team,” Northampton-West head coach Chris Beichner said after the game. “But we had some errors that gave them some runs.”
The ‘Canes spotted the visitors a 6-0 lead after just one inning of play and were never able to fully recover. The Warriors were held scoreless in the second inning, but managed at least three runs in each of the next three.
Top seeded Louisburg remains undefeated in the conference, but the team isn't taking it for granted.
“We still have to get better every game,” Warriors head coach Al Bolton said.
The ‘Canes had two costly errors in the top of the fourth that led to some extra outs for the Warriors. Leadoff man Lee Person cracked an RBI single that pushed the lead to seven and Brett Garrett followed with a double that scored two more runs. Garrett would then come home courtesy of a ‘Canes error.
Things got worse for the home team in the top of the fifth when ‘Canes pitcher Quinton Godley, who was seeing his first game action in weeks, walked the first two batters in the lineup. The third, Gerald Bullock, blasted an RBI single that scored two runs to push the lead to 11, 15-4.
Godley pitched five innings in his return -- looking good at times, striking out five batters -- but his rust also showed as he gave up 17 hits.
“If we win out we're in the playoffs,” he explained. “If we win two, we may need some help. But we have to win. I told them after the game that I'm testing their pride a little bit.”
Beichner said a playoff appearance would be huge for the ‘Canes, considering they haven't made it to the postseason in almost 10 years.
But in order to do so, the ‘Canes will have to stop giving their opponents so much help with errors.
“Louisburg is a good measuring stick, and they forced some of those errors,” Beichner said. “But we'll work on it Monday at practice and do some batting.”
The coach was optimistic that some of the mistakes were simply ones that are correctable, but knows they are mistakes his guys can't afford to make Tuesday when they travel to Northampton-East.
Dashawn Moody, Keith Garner, and Dasmine Moody each had an RBI for the ‘Canes. Garner also added two stolen bases.
R H E
L 603 44 - 17 17 1
W 111 10 - 4 9 6
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