Hinson leads Saints past Kinston

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 30, 2006 2:19 AM

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DUDLEY -- After a workman-like, 4-0 victory over Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference foe Kinston Friday night, Southern Wayne coach Trae McKee was obviously pleased with the win.

He was also cautiously optimistic that his team would not overlook a road game at Wilson Hunt before Thursday's showdown at home with Charles B. Aycock.

"We have to think about Wilson Hunt Tuesday night. That is the only game that matters right now ... we have got to get up and show a little emotion," McKee said.

Southern Wayne's T.J. Hinson allowed only four Kinston hits -- striking out eight in his third shutout of the year.

The Vikings' Antonio Whitfield gave up only seven hits, but the Saints lashed out four hits for extra bases and made contact through the game as Whitfield struck out only one.

With one out in the first inning, Southern Wayne (13-8, 7-1 ECC) scored one run when Willie Koernig blasted a double over the center fielder's head and scored as Austin Hood followed with another two-bagger. Hood was thrown out trying to steal third base, and Whitfield retired the next batter on a fly out to center.

Kinston (0-18, 0-8 ECC) threatened in the third, but heads-up defense by the Saints kept the Vikings off the scoreboard. After Hinson struck out the first Kinston batter, Whitfield stroked a double and Adam Spence followed with a single to center -- giving Kinston runners on first and third with only one out.

The Vikings' Hines Guttenberger hit a high chopper behind third base that was fielded by Saints' third baseman Dave Overman. He quickly fired home to catcher David Combs, who made a nice play on a high throw and tagged Whitfield for the second out.

Hood, the shortstop, then fielded what looked to be a sure hit between short and third and forced Spence at third base for the final out.

Southern Wayne scored twice more in the fourth inning as Hinson helped his own cause with a lead-off homer to left. Combs singled and would later score on a fielder's choice.

Spence started Kinston's sixth inning with his second hit of the night, but the Saints then turned another defensive gem with a 6-4-3 double play.

Southern Wayne loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth on two errors and Tyler Edwards' second hit of the night. Garrett Barfield lifted a sacrifice fly to center -- scoring Combs for the Saints final run of the game.

"Defensively we played pretty well, and all in all, T.J did a good job for us," McKee said. "Offensively, I thought we could have had some better at-bats throughout the lineup."

Kinston 000 000 0 -- 0 4 3

So. Wayne 100 201 x -- 4 7 0 Leading hitters -- Kinston -- Antonio Whitfield 1-3, 2B; Adam Spence 2-2; Mike Wetherington 1-3. Southern Wayne -- David Combs 1-3, run; Willie Koernig 1-3, 2B, run; Austin Hood 1-2, 2B, RBI; T.J. Hinson 1-3, HR, run, RBI; Tyler Edwards 2-3, run.

IP H R ER BB SO

Kinston

A. Whitfield (L) 6 7 4 3 2 1

Southern Wayne

T.J. Hinson (W) 7 4 0 0 1 8