You could call Murphy USA pitcher James Buie a workhorse. But somehow, that term seems just a bit lacking.

Monday night at Bynum Park, Buie pitched his second complete game in three days, hurling his No. 3-seeded team to a 9-6 win over top seed James Grading and Hauling in the championship game of the Rockingham Parks and Recreation Pony League Tournament.

On Saturday, Buie also pitched Murphy USA’s semifinal contest, a 7-4 win over No. 2-seeded Brown’s Pest Control.

For those keeping score, that’s 14 innings of work over three days.

Monday night, Buie’s teammates staked him to an early 7-1 lead. Murphy USA scored two runs in the first, with the key blow a two-run single by Joseph Griffith. Murphy USA added a run in the second and four in the fourth, including a run-scoring double by Ethan Baucom, a two-RBI double by drew Butler, and a suicide squeeze by Griffith that scored Butler.

James Grading and Hauling rallied to cut the deficit to one with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, including an RBI double by Brad Dawkins, and additional run-scoring doubles by Kevin Norton and Jacob Staub. Jonathan Taylor plated a run with a single, and he stole second and third before coming home on a throwing error.

Buie was able to bear down and get a strikeout to end the threat.

“I just had to gut it out a bit,” Buie said.

As for the two long pitching stretches over the past three days?

“I iced my arm for about 45 minutes after Saturday’s game,” Buie said, his arm again iced Monday night. “It feels fine. I wanted to be out there.”

For Murphy USA coach Lee Griffith, the result was the culmination of a season of hard work.

“I knew these kids had it in them,” Griffith said as he was doused with an ice shower. “These boys have been warriors all year.”

Murphy USA finished 8-4.

James Grading and Hauling finished 8-1 and won the regular-season title. Coach Ronald James said he wasn’t too disappointed with the outcome.

“”We had a great year, and the Lord blessed us with a great team,” James said. “We had a great bunch of coaches, and great support from the parents and fans.”

After the championship game, the Rockingham Pony League All-Stars were announced. They are: Elijah Godwin and Cody Leviner of Brown’s Pest Control; Ethan Baucom, James Buie, Drew Butler and Braxton Smith of Murphy USA; John Simmons, Austin Miles and Bradley Brown of Sport Cycles; Tyler McLean and Adam Sweatt of Rotary; and Alex Norton, Mike Rush and Jonathan Taylor of James Grading and Hauling.

The All-Star Tournament, hosted by Rockingham, begins Monday, July 12. For schedules and additional information, see future editions of the Richmond County Daily Journal and www. yourdailyjournal.com.

Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14 or via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.