HOLLYWOOD CROSSROADS, N.C. – The arms race for the top spots in the Big East 3A/4A Conference does not come easy.

Through the first half of league play, D.H. Conley is a perfect 6-0.

Six RBI from freshman Ethan Stewart helped the No. 5 ranked Vikings put up early crooked numbers in an 11-8 win over No. 13 South Central.

Stewart’s second career home run was a three-run line drive over the right field wall in the bottom of the first inning.

The blast helped Harrison Corey settle in on the mound. The sophomore right-hander went 3.2 innings with one hit allowed. He scattered five walks, allowed two runs, and struck out six.

After Coleton Newbern singled in Hunter Layton for a 4-0 lead in the third, South Central responded with a pair in the top of the fourth.

A two-out rally opened the door for Jamari Hukins to score on a wild pitch and Aiden Parker to single home a run.

Conley responded well to the Falcon offense with four of its own in the bottom of the frame. The Vikings loaded the bases with one out and scored two on wild pitches.

Stewart blooped a single the other way to score two and inflate the lead to 8-2 after four.

The two sides traded runs in the fifth. South Central got one back on a fielder’s choice, but Rooke Knittle answered with an RBI single to grab a 9-3 advantage.

Leading 9-4 in the sixth, Davis Bradley tripled home Nolan Winfield and scored on a Stewart ground out.

South Central did not go quietly in the seventh. The Falcons pieced together four runs on three hits, an error, and two walks.

Parker and Christian Chance led the Falcons with a pair of two-hit efforts. Brooks Brannan and Colby Jones drove in two each.

Knittle and Stewart combined to go 4-for-6 at the plate with seven driven in. D.H. Conley has now won 10 straight.

The Vikings (12-1) travel to Jacksonville and West Carteret next week. South Central takes on Hunt this Saturday before embarking on conference showdowns with J.H. Rose and New Bern.