Murray keys South in win vs. North

Web posted June 21, 1998

By Jimmy DeButts
Staff Writer

COLUMBIA -- James Murray wore the face of a frustrated man when he hit into a double play to end the first inning Saturday during the consolation game at the 14th annual South Carolina High School North/South All-Star baseball game at Sarge Frye Field on the campus of the University of South Carolina.

It was the third consecutive at-bat that the Barnwell product had pounded the baseball with nothing to show for it. Murray finally was rewarded in the fourth inning when he lined a Clint Carter fastball into center field to record his first hit in the two-day series.

Murray scored the A-AA South squad's first run when he slid safely home on a single by Johnsonville's Brandon Powell. The A-AA representatives scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead, but the AAA-AAAA South team won the game 5-4.

After three frustrating appearances at the plate, Murray was relieved to put it safely in play.

``I thought I'd break out today,'' said the 6-foot, 240-pound third baseman.

Surrounded by the best seniors in the state, Murray admitted he was a little tight in the field Friday. The Claflin College signee made a fielding error in the first inning which, along with his batting hardships, seemed to stretch his patience.

``I was trying to make things happen,'' Murray said of his first game jitters. ``I needed to relax and let it come to me.''

In Saturday's consolation game, Murray made two exceptional plays in the field. The first came in the second inning when he pulled in a high chopper by Eddie O'Donnell, then threw out the Summerville player.

Wagener-Salley's Ben Yon, co-Class A Player of the Year, went hitless in the two games, but wasn't disappointed.

``It's a big experience, especially coming from a small school,'' Yon said. ``It's the most fun I ever had playing a sport.''

Yon finished his senior season with a .610 average and three home runs. He has narrowed his college choices to Augusta State and USC Salkehatchie. Yon said he'd never been around so much talent, and he took advantage of the opportunity to pick the brains of his fellow all-stars.

The War Eagles' shortstop said Northwestern's Demetric Smith gave him the best advice all week.

``He told me never to let somebody tell me I can't accomplish things.''

Brett Price of Batesburg-Leesville had two singles for the A-AA squad and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning Saturday. The South Carolina signee was the starter Friday and struck out five.