Post 11 falls on the road

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 29, 2006 2:08 PM

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NASHVILLE -- Brian Allen smacked a game-shifting three-run home run and Nash County -- again -- claimed another come-from-behind victory over Wayne County Post 11 on Wednesday evening.

Allen's three-run bomb, the fifth homer yielded by Post 11's pitching staff this season, ignited a five-run sixth inning and led to a 10-8 decision on the Nash Central High diamond. Nash County (8-11) improved to 7-10 in Area I East play and snapped Wayne County's three-game winning streak -- it's longest of the season.

Post 11 exited 7-9 against division opposition.

"We just have pure buzzard luck," said Wayne County coach Brad Reaves, whose team endured a 7-6 loss to Post 58 nearly two weeks ago after building a five-run advantage.

Nash County toiled through seven errors defensively and swept the regular-season series. Wayne County (9-10) endured its seventh defeat in contests decided by three runs or less, and fell to 6-3 in road games this season.

"I really don't think we were ready to play right to start with," said Reaves. "I don't think we were locked in (at the plate). We should have hit that pitching better than what we did."

Wayne County managed just one hit and one unearned run through four innings against Post 58 right-hander Zach Woodley. Woodley retired 10 of 11 batters he faced during three-plus innings, but encountered trouble in the fifth.

Post 11 notched three unearned runs on two hits, a walk and three errors. Reaves' team turned its one-run deficit into a slim two-run advantage and gave right-hander Ashton Langston a little breathing room on the mound.

Langston (4-3) surrendered a single run in the fifth and struggled in the sixth. Nash County collected five earned runs on six hits, including Allen's three-run blast over the left field fence. It was Allen's fourth extra-base hit in the two-game series and sixth overall.

Langston threw just 18 pitches in the sixth inning.

"Ashton threw his guts out to start with," said Reaves. "They get three runs on balls that have pine tar all over them. They don't get a ball out of the infield and he's jamming them up.

"I left him in too long. I saw he was up (in the zone) and his arm angle changed a little bit. I told the boys that I'll take this loss because I left him in a little too long."

Wayne County trimmed the deficit to 8-6 on Jackson Massey's two-run home run -- his second of the season -- in the eighth inning. Post 11 chased two Post 58 relievers off the mound in the ninth inning. Bennett Jeffreys delivered a two-out, pinch-hit RBI double -- his sixth extra-base hit of the season. Jeffreys eventually scored on an infield error.

Allen replaced Eric Moore, who relieved Jim Leggett, and induced Walker Gourley into a game-ending groundball at first for the save.

Wayne County stranded 12 runners on base, including eight in scoring position over the final three innings. Reaves' club left the bases loaded in the seventh and ninth innings.

"What I didn't like is we didn't take very good swings with people in scoring position," said Reaves. "You've got to get up there and come out of your shoes a little bit, but we got jammed up a little bit on hitter's counts. We weren't aggressive early and it wasn't like they were throwing something up there 90 miles an hour.

"We're sitting on an 80-mph fastball getting jammed and we can't do that."

Post 11 remains in contention for a postseason bid and plays three games in the next three days. Reaves' club hosts New Bern for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. today and is the guest of nemesis Wilson Post 13 on Saturday.

"We've got to play them one at a time," said Reaves. "We were trying to turn the corner the last week or so, and we can't let this one hold us back."

Wayne 100 030 022 -- 8 10 3

Nash 001 115 02x -- 10 15 7

Leading hitters -- Wayne County -- Jackson Massey 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; Chris Massey 2-5, RBI; Joey Moye 2-5; Bennett Jeffreys 1-1, 2B, RBI; Austin Hood 2-4. Nash County -- Will Johnson 3-4, 2B; Brian Allen 2-5, HR, 4 RBI; Xavier Macklin 2-4; Adam Hodges 2-3, RBI; Brian Braswell 2-5, 2 2Bs, 3 RBI.

IP H R ER BB SO

Wayne County

Langston (L, 4-3) 6 13 8 6 0 3

Sutton 11/3 1 2 2 1 1

Price 2/3 1 0 0 0 1

Nash County

Woodley (W) 61/3 5 4 0 2 5

Leggett 21/3 5 2 2 0 0

E. Moore 0 0 2 0 2 0

Allen (S) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0

HBP -- Langston 3, Woodley 1.