Unlike in politics, where that description is used as a pejorative, that feeling is a good thing in baseball.

In its first game versus its cross-town rival since Trumbower inherited the Chapel Hill baseball team from former Tiger head coach David Miller last summer, CHHS did something Friday it had been itching to do for years -- beat East Chapel Hill.

Coming off a difficult 4-1 conference loss to Cardinal Gibbons, the Tigers (3-2) scored four runs in the top of the third alone on Friday and went on to take a 6-0 victory over their cross-town rivals.

"To come in here and play seven strong innings like this was really great for our kids," Trumbower said.

It was Chapel Hill's first win over East Chapel Hill in seven tries.

The Wildcats' loss was the third in four days for East Chapel Hill (3-3), which lost 3-2 at Durham Jordan in nine innings and then 1-0 against Durham Riverside. The second loss denied a decision for John Ruch, who gave up just one hit in pitching a complete game.

"John did very well pitching in that game, but we didn't help him enough," East Chapel Hill coach Phil Woodell said, noting the Wildcats had eight hits and put 12 men on base. "We loaded the bases a couple of times but couldn't get anyone in.

"It's been a tough week. We played three games against some real quality opponents. We had trouble scoring runs all week. Today was no exception."

Woodell could only admire the succession of CHHS pitchers his batters faced. "Give the pitchers credit. They did what they were supposed to do."

Chapel Hill starter Russell Parks walked zero and struck out five Wildcats in five full innings of work to collect the shutout win at East Chapel Hill. Parks struck out three of four batters faced in the fifth, and then Michael Elefante and Tuc Fisher each retired the side in order in the last two innings.

Fisher, who started at first base gave Chapel Hill all the offense it needed with a sharp single in the top of the third into left field that scored Cam Visser from second.

Centerfielder Peter Owens then zinged a home run over left-centerfield field that drove in Fisher for a 3-0 lead with no outs. Elefante followed that with a walk and came in later on a throwing error for a 4-0 lead.

Two more unearned runs, scored by Fisher and Owens, put CHHS up 6-0 in the top of the sixth.

Owens ended up hitting 2-for-3 with his 2-run homer, and Fisher was 1-3 with an RBI. CHHS also got hits from Andrew Romaine (2-4), Lee Gilliam (1-2), Charlie Passannente (1-3) and Visser (1-2).

"Top to bottom, the team did a really good job. We really played well as a team and played together," Trumbower said.

"Our chemistry is great right now. That's the privilege I get from having so many players who've been together for three years. Coach Miller left me a great team, and I just want to continue that tradition of great baseball at Chapel Hill."