NEWLONDON — Clark Kent takes off his glasses and turns into Superman.
North Rowan senior Phillip Goodman is just the opposite. He turns into Superman by putting on his glasses.
Armed with new spectacles, Goodman was spectacular on Monday afternoon. He dominated with both his swing and his right wing as the Cavaliers crushed 2A Central Carolina Conference foe North Stanly 13-2 in five innings.
“The glasses make a big difference when I’m hitting,” said Goodman. “Before, when it got dark, I couldn’t see the ball. This has helped a lot.”
Now, instead of a pea, the horsehide looks like a pumpkin. Goodman looked a bit like Austin Powers but he swung like Steve Austin, the bionic $6-million dollar man. He produced a solid double, a run-scoring single, a sacrifice fly and a team-high three RBIs.
On the mound, Goodman (3-1) was even better. He tossed a two-hitter, recording nine of his last 10 outs via strikeouts. He didn’t walk a batter until the Comets were down to their last out.
“He had all three pitches (fastball, knuckleball and curveball) working,” said North coach Bill Kesler. “Cold as it was, Phillip did a nice job.”
Goodman’s lone mistake was one he won’t lose any sleep over. JoshParah, Goodman’s friend and AAU teammate for four years, pulled a two-run homer in the fourth to put the Comets (2-3 CCC) on the board.
Goodman actually had more trouble with his fingers than with most Comet hitters.
“I ripped a finger up pretty good, digging my nails in to throw the knuckler,” said Goodman, cheerfully displaying the wound.
But that was only minor ripping next to what Goodman’s teammates were doing with their aluminum.
North, which is hitting better than .300 as a team, whacked a dozen hits, including homers by Brandon Doby, Keith Cauble and Aaron Rimer. Doby’s blast was an instant classic, way up in the pines beyond the fence in left-center.
Parah started on the mound for the Comets and could have escaped the first inning without damage had a couple of long flies by Tad Ogg and Aaron Corby been corralled. But the wind and late sun (the game started at 5 p.m.) proved difficult obstacles. The drives fell in and the Cavs (7-2, 4-0) put together a big inning. Goodman delivered a ringing, two-out two-bagger to keep things going and No. 7 hitter Doby and No. 8 Cauble followed him with back-to-back homers. Just like that it was 6-0.
“The guys at the top have hit all year,” said Kesler. “But it was good to see the guys down in the order hitting it hard. If they can do that, pitchers won’t be able to take any innings off against us.”
Hot-hitting Rimer, the county’s No. 1 batter (.524) entering the game, knocked out Parah with a no-doubt-about-it shot to open the second. Then the Comets kicked it around the infield a bit to fall behind 10-0.
After that, the only remaining suspense concerned whether the game would require the regulation seven innings or if the Cavs could end it early via the 10-run rule.
A shivering Kesler did all he could to send the few dozen, huddled, coffee-sipping fans toward their vehicles. With the Cavs up 11-2 in the top of the fifth, he got the 12th run home — achieving that precious 10-run lead — with a delayed double steal. When the throw down to second was mishandled, North’s Erik Mowery easily trotted home from third.
“It was just a little chilly out there,” Kesler said with a smile.
“It was cold,” agreed Goodman. “Everyone was getting antsy and ready to go home. It was like, ‘Let’s get ‘em out and then get the heck out of here.’ ”
Goodman got them out. Goodman was so good, in fact, that no one should be surprised if all the Cavs show up wearing glasses for Wednesday’s showdown with conference co-leader East Davidson (7-3, 4-0). You can’t have too many supermen.
n
NOTES:Doby will likely start Wednesday’s game against coach Dan Tricarico’s Golden Eagles, who were state champs two years ago. East beat Lexington Monday. … North’s Jarrett Wishon had a first-inning snack of Gatorade, pistachios and a Snickers bar, but was still able to perform courtesy running duties when called upon. ... Cav outfielder Jimbo Davis stayed above .500 with two hits.
Today's News