Central ends regular season with 3-straight wins

DOBSON — Surry Central closed the regular season with three dominant wins.

Central posted its second shutout of the season by defeating North Wilkes 9-0 on April 23, then went on the road the next day to beat North Wilkes again 13-1. Surry Central closed the regular season with a 14-4 home win over Elkin.

Surry Central won four of its last five regular season games to get above .500 for the first time since April 3.

April 23: Surry Central vs. North Wilkes

The Golden Eagles honored three seniors before their Foothills 2A Conference game against North Wilkes: Rhylee Anderson, Landon Johnson and Brooke Atkins.

“Landon has been our only four-year player, and he’s been really good for us,” said Surry Central coach Hank Whitaker. “He’s had a great year hitting the ball and defensively.

“Rhylee is a first-year player that comes ready to work every day and he does what’s asked of him. He’s a good kid.

“Brooke has been my statistician for three years and it’s been great having her with us. She’s going to make a really good vet at NC State.”

Surry Central (12-11, 4-8 FH2A) came out swinging in its first of two games against North Wilkes. Central recorded 12 hits — its most in a game since April 1 — while only giving up five. This included three in the first inning as the team jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Brayden Woodring was walked to begin the inning, then stole second before moving to third on a hit from Eric Branch. Woodring scored on a pickoff error at third.

Landon Johnson was walked before a single from Lucas Johnson loaded the bases. North Wilkes picked up two quick outs, then Tytus Lloyd brought a run in with a single.

Central went scoreless in the second inning before adding seven runs across the third and fourth innings. Landon Johnson led off with a single, then moved to second on a ground out before advancing to third when Jackson Wilmoth singled. Both runners scored on a double from Dru Gaddy. Gaddy scored later in the inning on a hit from Anderson.

The bottom of the fourth inning opened with Sam Wood doubling with a hit to center field. Both Landon and Lucas Johnson hit deep balls in the outfield, but flied out. Wilmoth scored Wood with a single. Gaddy was walked, then Lloyd hit a single to score Ian Hooker — Wilmoth’s courtesy runner.

A pickoff error allowed Gaddy to score, then Lloyd crossed home plate when a fly ball hit by Anderson was dropped in the outfield.

Wilmoth pitched a complete game for the Golden Eagles. He finished with 11 strikeouts, one base on balls, one hit by pitch and five hits allowed.

“Jackson did really well on the mound and the bats did well tonight too, so it was just a start of a good week,” Coach Whitaker said. “We’ve got to finish strong to get a state playoff berth. That was the goal we set at the beginning of the season.”

April 24: Surry Central at North Wilkes.

The Eagles went from 12 hits to just three when they went on the road to face the Vikings, but the team took advantage of 14 bases on balls to put up 13 runs across just five innings.

This included 11 runs in just the second inning.

Wilmoth, Woodring and Landon Johnson accounted for Surry Central’s three hits. Garrett Higgins led the team with three RBIs, followed by Woodring with two and three Eagles with one each: Wilmoth, Kasen White and Landon Johnson.

Three Eagles spent time on the mound in Hays: Hooker, Gaddy and Jax Whitaker.

Whitaker threw 1.2 innings and recorded one strikeout, one base on balls, two hit by pitches and allowed one run. Hooker pitched 1.1 innings, striking out one batter and walking two. Gaddy threw five strikeouts in two innings pitched.

April 25: Surry Central vs. Elkin

The Golden Eagles wrapped up the regular season with their seventh win at least 10 runs.

Elkin out-hit Surry Central 6-5 and actually led 4-3 after the top of the second inning, but a patient Central squad took advantage of 11 bases on balls to win 14-4.

Woodring recorded three of Surry Central’s five hits, while Gaddy and Wilmoth each added one. Seven Eagles were walked at least once, led by White’s three bases on balls.

Wilmoth and Lucas Johnson each recorded three RBIs. Gaddy added two RBIs, and Woodring and Landon Johnson each had one.

Gaddy pitched 3.1 innings for Central, during which time he struck out four batters, walked four, and allowed four runs six hits. Whitaker pitched 1.2 innings and struck out one batter.

“Sometimes we’ve been up and down, but I’m happy with the way we continue to work hard,” Coach Whitaker said. “That’s going to take us a long way hopefully.