Farmville Central Ends Greene Central’s Five-Game Win Streak on Senior Night
SNOW HILL — On a night meant to honor a decorated senior class, Greene Central was unable to overcome early miscues and a sharp performance from Farmville Central, falling 7-3 on Tuesday in Eastern Plains 2A Conference action.
The Rams (10-7, 6-5 EPC) jumped ahead in the bottom of the first when senior Riley Radford turned on a fastball and sent it over the center field wall for a two-run home run. The momentum was short-lived. Farmville Central (9-5, 6-3 EPC) responded with three runs in the second, highlighted by Ryan Albritton’s bases-clearing double to take a 3-2 lead.
The Jaguars continued to apply pressure, adding two more runs in the third on a Joe May RBI single and an RBI groundout from Ashton Skinner. In the fourth, Trey Williford helped his own cause with a solo shot to center. Williford earned the win on the mound as well, striking out 10 and walking three across 5.2 innings while allowing just two hits and three earned runs.
Head coach Ben Brann said he didn’t feel his team set the tone at the plate.
“I didn’t think our approach at the plate was amazing,” Brann said. “We took a lot of timid swings early in counts and then we were taking aggressive swings late — and that’s not what you want to be doing, especially against a good pitcher. [Williford] threw the ball well. We’ve got to get in there and compete a little bit better.”
Radford’s home run was one of only four hits for Greene Central, with Easton Creech, Noah Roberson, and Austin Brock each tallying a single. Creech took the loss after surrendering six runs (four earned) on four hits over three innings. The Rams pitching staff combined for five strikeouts and six walks across seven frames.
Tuesday’s game marked Senior Night for the Rams, who honored Elijah Monroe, Easton Creech, Austin Brock, and Zach Harrison, who honored four players from a class that has compiled a 71-23 overall record across four seasons. The group has been a part of two conference championships and a state title — a run that Brann said helped raise the standard.
“They’ve been a part of a lot of good things here at Greene Central,” Brann said. “They just mean a whole lot to our program.”
Still, the Rams were haunted once again by defensive miscues. The team committed four errors in the loss, pushing their season total to 30 in 17 games — already surpassing last year’s total of 26 across 30 contests. In 2023, the Rams committed 24 errors in 26 games. In 2022, it was 34 errors in 22 outings.
“I definitely expected us to come out with some energy and intensity, especially against a team like Farmville Central — no matter if they're 10-12 or 20-2,” Brann said. “We didn’t play to our capability.”
Greene Central will look to bounce back quickly, traveling to Farmville for the second leg of the home-and-home series on Wednesday at 7 p.m. With the postseason drawing near, the Rams — currently sitting at No. 23 in the NCHSAA 2A East RPI rankings — know that every game matters.
