Post 11 splits pair at tourney

Published in Sports on June 11, 2006 2:12 AM

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CHAPEL HILL -- The Wayne County Post 11 offense has been missing in action this season as the team struggled to a 3-3 record. Perhaps what happened at UNC's Boshamer Stadium Saturday afternoon in the Chapel Hill American Legion Invitational is the beginning of a turnaround.

After dropping a 1-0 decision to Kerr Lake earlier in the day at Chapel Hill High School, Wayne changed sites and responded with 12 hits, its most of the season, including a home run by Thomas Pilkington, to defeat the host team 6-3.

Post 11 will continue play in the event tomorrow with a 4 p.m. contest against Durham at the UNC field. All games are seven innings. Wayne County returns to Area I East action at home on Monday against New Bern at 7 p.m.

"We thought it was a great opportunity for the kids to play at UNC. A lot of kids don't get that opportunity," Wayne County coach Brad Reaves said. "We ran two completely different lineups and played a lot of people.

"We know that you can't win the Area I East the first week of June. We're just trying to find the right groove for the end of June and July."

Post 11 entered the tournament batting .180, and things didn't get any better with only three hits in the first-ever loss to Kerr Lake. But the offense unexpectedly came to life in the second game.

After spotting Chapel Hill a run in the third, Wayne got a boost in the fourth on Pilkington's leadoff homer to left center. David Combs singled and scored on a one-out double by Garrett Davis. Consecutive walks to Joey Moye and Jackson Massey forced home another run.

The offense really got going in the fifth. Bennett Jeffreys reached on an infield hit to short, then Combs singled to left with one out.

Chapel Hill looked to be on its way to getting out of the winning after a popup, but Davis hit a shot that bounced over the head of the first baseman for a run, and Moye drilled a an RBI double into the left-field corner. Massey, who had entered the tournament with six strikeouts in his past two games, made it a perfect day at the plate with a run-scoring single to right.

"We talked between games about how contagious baseball is. That was the theme," Reaves said. "The best thing I saw was that we produced 1-through-9 in the order ... everybody. That was the most encouraging part."

Wayne had a few anxious moments in the ninth. Davis, who had entered in the eighth, gave up a two-out run on a ground out to empty the bases. But back to back singles brought the tying run to the plate before Davis got the last out on a grounder to preserve the lead.

Jimmy Tanner went the distance for Kerr Lake in the opener as Wayne couldn't take advantage of what few opportunities it had offensively, stranding five runners in scoring position.

Kerr Lake scored the only run in the fifth. Paris Bird bunted safely down the third base line to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice. Zach Stevenson doubled to right center to score Bird.

D.J. Scott double to the left-field corner to open the seventh and went to third on a passed ball with none out before getting tagged out near home on a fielder's choice.

Wayne almost tied it in the seventh. John Wooten singled to center to lead off the inning. Brady Wiggins walked with one out, and Massey bunted them to third. Tanner retired Walker Gourley on a ground out to end the game.

Game one

Wayne Co. 000 000 0 -- 0 3 0

Kerr Lake 000 010 x -- 1 5 1

Leading hitters -- Wayne County -- Jackson Massey 1-3; Walker Gourley 1-4; John Wooten 1-2. Kerr Lake -- Scott 2-3, 2B; Stevenson 1-2, 2B, RBI.

IP H R ER BB SO

Wayne County

Sutton 3 2 0 0 1 3

Ham (L, 0-1) 3 3 1 1 1 3

Kerr Lake

Tanner (W) 7 3 0 0 5 7

Game two

Chapel Hill 001 100 1 -- 3 7 1

Wayne Co. 000 240 x -- 6 12 2

Leading hitters -- Chapel Hill -- Henley 1-2, run; Brice 1-4, 2 RBIs; Peterson 1-3, RBI; Sprague 1-2, 2B. Wayne County -- Jackson Massey 2-2, 2 RBIs; Thomas Pilkington 2-4, HR, RBI; David Combs 2-4, 2 runs; Garrett Davis 2-3, 2B, RBI; Joey Moye 1-2, 2B, RBI.

IP H R ER BB SO

Chapel Hill

Gilliam 31/3 6 2 2 2 4

Robinson (L) 21/3 6 4 4 1 1

Wayne County

Price 3 2 1 1 2 3

Langston (W) 2 2 1 1 1 1

Davis 2 3 1 1 0 2