The Fuquay-Varina baseball team completed a successful week with a 9-0 shutout victory over Tri-Eight conference rival Cary. The Bengals (5-1 conference, 8-7 overall) had also posted a 5-0 shutout win over Apex on Wednesday.

Both Kyle Hedgepeth and Kyle Canfield went yard with two-run homers, and sophomore pitcher Travis Long tossed a two-hitter in the win over the Imps (2-4, 5-9). Phillip Cotten went 3-for-3 to also help pace the resurgent Bengals bats.

“Our pitching was really great this week,” said FV head coach Milton Senter. “(Ross) Barnett threw a one-hitter against Apex and tonight Travis came close.”

Long, who struck out the first five Cary batters he faced, retired the first 11 Imps before Josh McCauley broke up the perfect game in the fourth inning with a walk. Cary, who trailed 7-0 in the fifth inning, nearly scored without yet notching a base hit off Long, but the sophomore sensation forced Cary into a rare 1-2-3 double play to preserve the shutout.

Long carried the no hitter into the seventh but Cary pride kicked in and ended the bid. Stephen McKinney belted a double to lead off the inning and Tony Sanchez later hit a bloop single. Long still had throwing power in the seventh, posting a strikeout and forcing two groundouts to keep the shutout intact.

“I just felt like I had my fastball and really all my pitches working tonight,” Long said. “I wasn’t tired at all.”

The Bengals erupted for a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Aaron Olive belted a double, Hedgepeth slammed a home run to left center, Cotton and Austin Risch singled, and Caleb Routh drove them home with a two-RBI double.

Cary starter Cal Foshee took the loss and came out of the game early in the second inning. Senior Hunter Carr pitched most of the remainder of the game for the Imps.

“Fuquay-Varina played a great game tonight,” said Cary head coach Patrick Parr, whose Imps defeated Panther Creek earlier in the week by the 5-3 score. "[Long] did a great job on the mound and deserves a lot of praise. We just couldn’t get our bats going.”

It was a different story for Fuquay-Varina.

“I really liked the way we hit the ball, and we’re coming around with our bats now,” Senter said. “We just have to take it one game at a time and keep our nose to the grindstone.”

Canfield belted the shot of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with Hedgepeth on second base. The senior third baseman launched a home run that appeared to travel more than 400 feet, giving the Bengals a commanding 7-0 advantage.

“Those guys have been hitting all year, and I’m also pleased with the way the bottom of our order is getting some hits,” Senter said. “When they get on base it keeps the innings going and sets things up for the big guys.”

With the game under control, Senter was able to get some work for his younger players. Parker Jones and freshman Zach Orrison each scored in the fifth inning for Fuquay-Varina.

The Bengals continue Tri-Eight play this week against Panther Creek and Green Hope. Both Cary and F-V play Lee County as well.