South Lenoir baseball looks to end skid soon

WASHINGTON | After a fast start, South Lenoir is trying to get back on track.

The Blue Devils fell to Washington 5-4 Friday on a walkoff, dropping its third straight after a 3-1 start. South Lenoir defeated Kinston 14-1 in its Eastern Carolina Conference opener on March 12, but fell to Ayden-Grifton and West Craven by a combined 19-0 before Friday’s heartbreaker.

South Lenoir trailed 4-1 after five innings, but benefitted from a dropped third strike to plate one in the sixth, followed by two runs coming in from passed balls in the seventh to tie it up. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough.

“We started fine, but we’ve got to be better at the plate,” South Lenoir coach David Combs said. “We haven’t executed as well lately and need to take a better approach.”

Combs said the skid hasn’t been due to a lack of effort.

“We’ve used almost every guy in the dugout,” Combs said. “They practice and play extremely hard and have looked to fill their roles. We haven’t had the best of luck lately, but hopefully things will turn around as we get deeper into conference play.”

The Blue Devils had 38 runs in its first four games, but had consecutive shutouts against Ayden-Grifton and West Craven before Washington. South Lenoir leftfielder Landon Stroud said the team has to force the issue more on offense.

“We’ve got to do a better job of getting balls in play,” Stroud said. “Our hitting has slipped some, but as soon as we get better there we’ll be a tough team.”

The Blue Devils have no shortage of upperclassmen this season, with nine seniors and four juniors on the roster. Freshman pitcher Jon Howard has also looked to make an impact, throwing five innings against the Pam Pack, allowing four hits and two earned runs with six strikeouts.

“It means a lot to play for the team,” Howard said. “Even though I’m young, I know I need to go out there and give it all that I’ve got. (The upperclassmen) have helped me a lot and made me a better player.”

South Lenoir hosts Greene Central Tuesday before a game against North Lenoir at home Friday.