Snow Hill demolishes Pitt County 160

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 9, 2005 2:01 PM

• Print
• Email

SNOW HILL -- Everybody hits. Everybody scores.

That theme summarized Snow Hill's 20-5 demolishing of Pitt County 160 in Area I East Division play Wednesday evening on the James R. Fulghum Athletic Complex diamond. Post 94 recorded its highest offensive output of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak.

Eight of 10 starters collected at least one hit, including right fielder Brandon Brown, who finished the game 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Nine players provided at least one RBI apiece, including pinch-hitters Brad Bagley and Travis Rouse, who each drove in two runs.

Snow Hill pounded out 10 or more hits in a game for the third time this season. Post 94 has outscored the opposition 44-19 in those contests.

"They hit the ball well, but we were behind in the count all night," first-year Pitt County 160 coach Rodney Harris said. "Our pitchers didn't work on top at all. That's something we've been preaching since we've gotten together.

"We've got to be able to do that."

Pitt County's trio of pitchers Steven Causey, Blain Kinsley and Jason Wood allowed a combined 35 base runners. The trio surrendered seven walks, hit three batters and were victimized by six defensive errors.

Snow Hill batted 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position in the first two innings. However, Post 94 broke through with a five-run, third-inning outburst.

Brown slapped a one-out double to left center field and scored on Blake Taylor's single to the same spot. After a fielder's choice forced Taylor out at second, Tommy Cobb cleared the bases with a triple that just missed clearing left field fence.

"Cobb got a big hit which kind of spread the score a little bit," said Post 94 coach James "Rabbit" Fulghum.

Pitt County immediately answered with a three-run inning against Post 94 right-hander Chip Wall. The visitors benefited from two walks, a hit batter and an infield error. Robert Johnson doubled to score one run, while two runs crossed on the error.

Wall yielded a single run in the fifth and gave up just two hits in a six-inning stint. The North Pitt graduate struck out five and walked five.

"Wall had a couple of good innings, but we've got to get him in a groove," Fulghum said. "We can't seem to get him in a groove. We're counting on him to be a starting pitcher because he's awfully good.

"He's one of our best three from last year."

Jordy Davis threw the seventh in relief. Officials halted the game after 61/2 innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Snow Hill sent 29 batters to the plate in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings combined. Post 94 tallied 15 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits and capitalized on four Pitt County miscues.

"We didn't show much pride, that's for sure," Harris said. "I'm not going to say that's not going to happen again, but it happened last year and I think that started getting in their heads.

"You don't want that to happen again."

Six Post 94 starters contributed either a putout or an assist defensively. Taylor had six putouts at first base, while Lance Murray had five behind the plate. Second baseman Hunter Chase and shortstop John Allen Conway notched two assists apiece.

Bagley single-handedly turned a game-ending double play in the seventh. Designated hitter Blake Jamison hit a grounder to Bagley, who tagged McCarter and threw to Taylor at first to get Jamison for the final out.

Pitt County 160 remained winless in two outings.

Snow Hill (3-3, 3-3 Area I East) continues play Friday in the Wayne County Invitational at Mount Olive College. Post 94 faces Duplin County at 4 p.m. at Scarborough Field.