Errors cost Post 11 at Snow Hill

By Steve Roush
Published in Sports on July 3, 2005 2:01 AM

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SNOW HILL -- Four Wayne County errors led to six fifth-inning runs for Post 94 as Snow Hill got past reeling Post 11 on Friday night, 8-4.

Wayne -- which has lost four of its last five games -- outhit the home team 14-8, but left a whopping 17 runners on base in a game that was called one out into the home half of the eighth after the third lightning delay of the night.

"We got some breaks, which helps," Snow Hill coach James "Rabbit" Fulghum said. "We hit the ball well and things went our way. And defensively, other than a couple of boots, the kids played well."

Post 11 (15-6 overall, 10-4 division) rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to tie the contest at two in the top of the fifth. But after two straight errors in the bottom of the fifth, Snow Hill's John Allen Conway ripped an two-run double to left off Wayne County starter Garrett Davis (1-1) to put Post 94 (10-8, 8-8) back on top, 4-2.

Brandon Brown then hit a grounder to shortstop Jes Snyder, whose low throw home was way ahead of the runner, but got away from catcher Bennett Jeffreys to allow another run to score and moved two more into scoring position.

Davis then tried to pick a runner off first -- but with no runner on the base, a balk was called to force home another run. With Tommy Cobb at the plate, a passed ball allowed Brown to score. Davis then plunked Cobb with a pitch, which ended the lanky righty's night on the mound.

"I think he was tired," Post 11 coach Brad Reaves said. "He was supposed to pitch four days ago. The rainouts help your position players, but hurt the pitchers -- they're not going to be as sharp."

Brandon Price took over for Davis, and retired two after Travis Rouse reached on an error. But Jordan Scott -- who finished the night 2-for-5 with four RBI -- doubled in two more runs to make the score 8-2.

Davis gave up just two earned runs in four innings of work while allowing four hit and a walk while fanning three. Price gave up four hits and an unearned run in 3 1/3 innings on the hill.

"We're beating our heads against the wall," Reaves said. "I don't know what we should do. All the stranded baserunners snowballed over to our defense ... this ballgame should have been 4-4 (when the umpire called off the game)."

Snyder led Post 11 at the plate by going 4-for-5 with an RBI and scoring two runs. He's now hitting .455 this season. Jackson Massey, Matthew Holloman, Airlon Vinson and Garrett Sutton finished with two hits each.

Wayne rallied for two runs in the eighth, but Snow Hill reliever Chip Wall wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out a pair of Wayne County hitters.

Drew Sowers picked up the win in relief for Snow Hill. He gave up two runs and five hits in three innings of work, striking out three and walking three. Post 94 starter Blake Taylor, who worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first, went 4 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking one while allowing eight hits and two runs (one earned).

"Taylor got out of that jam there in the first, which I think was a big key to our success tonight," Fulghum said.