Unlucky 13: Wilson beats Post 11 for fourth straight time

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 16, 2006 2:09 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Wilson Post 13 certainly has Wayne County Post 11's number these days.

Post 13 tallied at least one run in seven of nine innings and handed Wayne County a 14-8 loss at Scarborough Field on Thursday evening. Post 13 claimed its fourth consecutive victory in the series and extended Post 11's home losing streak to five games.

"A lot of people have our number right now, but we're kind of a work in progress," said Wayne County head coach Brad Reaves. "You don't have to have anybody's number when you walk 11 and kick five balls (defensively) behind them."

Wilson, the Area I East runner-up a year ago, parlayed the free passes into seven runs and added four more on the defensive miscues. Four Wayne County pitchers combined to throw an astonishing 229 pitches in the three-hour marathon.

"We talked about making them put the ball in play and we threw some pitches with two strikes that weren't very good," said Reaves. "The biggest concern I had is we went 2-0 on a lot hitters; never got ahead.

"We're not going to strike out a lot of people."

Although Wayne County established season highs for runs scored (8) and hits (14), key plate appearances bothered Reaves. Post 11 put the lead-off runner aboard in eight of nine innings, and had at least two runners on base -- with no outs -- on five occasions.

However, Reaves' club stranded eight of 11 runners in scoring position.

"Evidently, we don't feel a bunt is very important," said Reaves. "We've stressed the small game to these guys. We've got to execute to score runs and get somebody in the middle of the lineup who is going to step up and drive in runs. No one has done that.

"I thought we swung the bats a little better, but we're not swinging it in key spots. Brady (Wiggins) got a great push-bunt down and we put up four runs in that (fourth) inning."

Wiggins legged out the infield bunt and sparked a four-run uprising that gave Wayne County a 6-4 lead. Joey Moye smacked a lead-off triple to the right center-field gap and Tyler Ham dropped an RBI single into left field which trimmed Wilson's advantage to 4-3.

Ham trotted home on an infield error for the 4-4 tie. Walker Gourley belted a two-RBI double -- his third of the season -- down the third-base line to push Post 11 in front.

Wilson (8-3, 7-2 Area I East) answered with seven runs over the next two innings against Post 11 reliever David Combs. Post 13 sent 16 batters to the plate and banged out seven hits during that stretch.

Five of nine Wilson starters collected at least two more hits in the nine-inning affair. Thomas Moore and Justin Batts, a rising sophomore at Barton College, combined for six hits and four RBI in nine at-bats.

Meanwhile, seven of nine starters had at least one hit for Wayne County. Bennett Jeffreys emerged the top offensive performer with three hits, including a triple, in five plate appearances.

Austin Hood, who received the Josh Brinkley Memorial Scholarship earlier in the day, produced two hits and an RBI. Chris Massey doubled in a 2-for-3 showing, while Ham contributed two hits in three at-bats off the bench.

Wayne County (4-5) fell to 2-4 against division opposition for the first time since 1994. Post 11 begins a three-day road swing today at Edenton.

"It's just a matter of putting everything together," said Reaves. "We're not throwing up the white flag. These kids are young; not a lot of Legion experience on the field."

Notes: The Brinkley Scholarship is honor of former Southern Wayne and Post 11 standout Josh Brinkley. ... Wayne County leads the all-time series 61-43 against Wilson. ... Ham led the Wayne County defense with 11 putouts. ... Gourley collected three putouts and three assists. ... Moore had 12 putouts at first base for Wilson. ... Post 11 plays at Pitt County 160 on Saturday and visits archrival Snow Hill on Sunday.

Wilson 201 134 210 -- 14 14 4

Wayne 110 402 000 -- 8 14 5

Leading hitters -- Wilson -- Tony Whitehead 2-5, 3 RBI; Tanner Eason 2-4; Thomas Moore 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI; Justin Batts 3-4; Lance Parrish 2-5, RBI. Wayne County -- Jackson Massey 1-4, 2B; Walker Gourley 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Austin Hood 2-4, RBI; Bennett Jeffreys 3-5, 3B; Chris Massey 2-3, 2B; Joey Moye 1-4, 3B; Garrett Davis 1-1, RBI; Tyler Ham 2-3, RBI; Brady Wiggins 1-3.

DP -- Wilson 1, Wayne County 1. LOB -- Wilson 13, Wayne County 11. SH -- Wiggins. SF -- Hood. SB -- Hood. CS -- Moye.

IP H R ER BB SO

Wilson

Harmon (W) 61/3 13 8 5 3 4

Edmundson 22/3 1 0 0 1 1

Wayne County

Davis 22/3 3 3 2 5 3

Combs (L, 1-2) 31/3 9 8 6 2 4

Massey 2 2 2 2 3 4

Hinson 1 0 0 0 1 3

WP -- Combs, Harmon. PB -- Batts. HBP -- Wiggins (by Harmon).