BIG INNING FOR PIEDMONT LIFTS PANTHERS TO WIN IN FIRST GAME OF 2-A SERIES
ZEBULON— Monroe Piedmont exploded for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning and coasted to a 9-3 triumph over North Brunswick on Friday in the opening game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A baseball championship series at Five County Stadium.
Cameron Price led Piedmont with three hits, three runs scored and three runs batted in. He had a single, double and triple in four trips to the plate. Hunter Purser also had three hits for the winners, and Colby Barnette hit safely twice.
Price had a triple in the big fourth that drove home a run as the Panthers collected a triple, double, three singles and a walk in the frame.
North Brunswick had taken a 3-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the first, with a double by Shak Graham driving home two.
Corey Sikes went the route on the mound for Piedmont, scattering five hits in improving his mound mark to 10-0 on the season. Shelton Perkins, who was knocked out of the game in the seven-run fourth, got the loss for North Brunswick, his third in 11 decisions.
Davon Perkins had two of North Brunswick’s five hits.
Piedmont is back in the NCHSAA baseball finals for the third time but the first time since 1984. The Panthers are now 29-3 overall while North Brunswick is 17-12. The Scorpions are making their first championship appearance since 1996.
Game two of the best-of-three is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday. This is the 97th year for baseball championships in the NCHSAA.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Five County Stadium, Zebulon
Class 2-A: Game One
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Monroe Piedmont 1 0 1 7 0 0 0 9 11 0
North Brunswick 3 0 0 0 0 0 x 3 5 3
WP—Corey Sikes (10-0)
LP—Shelton Perkins (8-3)