The rain that fell late Sunday into Monday morning may not have lasted long, but it did enough to alter the 17th annual Ray Avery Easter Tournament drastically.
The six-team tournament was a wash on Monday, forcing Ayden-Grifton Athletic Director and head baseball coach Chris Ross to make major changes to ensure all teams get three games and that those who had the farthest to travel didn’t have to stay an extra day.
The schedule was set so that High Point Andrews and Pamlico could play back-to-back games today, and then be on their way. Andrews will face the Chargers at 11 a.m. then face Pamlico at 2 p.m. The Hurricanes then will turn around and play Bear Grass at 5 p.m., and South Lenoir and Farmville Central will wrap up Day 2 action around 7:30.
There will only be two games played on Wednesday — Ayden-Grifton and the Blue Devils at 5 p.m. and Farmville Central and Bear Grass to follow.
A soaked field forced the postponements, and logistical issues, mainly with Andrews, forced Ross to really shake things up.
“It needed a day to dry out,” Ross said of his field. “We have tried to accommodate everybody’s needs, desires and qualms.”
The Pitt County Classic, which includes Greene Central, Kinston and North Lenoir, was played as scheduled on Monday.
GREENE CENTRAL 10, WASHINGTON 0, 6 INN.: At North Pitt, the Rams earned a shutout victory on the second day of the Pitt County Classic.
Chad Murphy went 2-for-4 and had a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Austin Mooring went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Dylan Taylor had two hits and drove in two runs.
Left-hander Ben Brann went the distance in the win. He gave up two hits, walked two, hit one batter and struck out six.
Greene Central (6-5) will wrap up the tournament against Rocky Mount at 10 a.m. today at Guy Smith Stadium.
SOFTBALL
SOUTH LENOIR 22, HAMILTON (Ohio) 0 4 INN.: At Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Blue Devils opened the Grand Strand Softball Classic with a rain-shortened win on Monday.
Morgan Mintz went 3-for-4 and scored three runs, Bree Williams was 2-for-2 with a double and Meredith Sanderson was 2-for-2 with a double and scored three runs.
South Lenoir (9-2) will play a team from Charleston, S.C., at 2 p.m. today.