Post 11 hammers Ahoskie

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 1, 2007 2:03 AM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Newcomer Taylor Bullard nearly turned in a perfect performance for Wayne County Post 11 on a sticky, humid Saturday afternoon.

The Harrells Christian graduate retired the first 13 batters he faced as Post 11 seized a 12-0, five-inning decision over Ahoskie Post 102 in an Area I East non-division doubleheader. In game two, Tyler Ham and Walker Gourley emerged the offensive leaders in a 11-1, five-inning triumph.

Wayne County (10-2 overall) claimed its third consecutive victory and continues play at home Monday against South Division rival Pitt County Post 160. Game time is 7 p.m. at Scarborough Field on the Mount Olive College campus.

Bullard, a right-hander, had struggled in his previous mound appearances this season. But he had exceptional control and needed just 55 pitches to polish of Ahoskie, currently in fifth place in the Area I East North Division.

A fifth-inning walk and Josh Morris' two-out single ruined Bullard's perfect-game bid. Bullard (1-0) finished with four strikeouts.

"Bullard was pretty dad-gum good today," said Wayne County coach Brad Reaves, who is 6-1 lifetime against Ahoskie.

UNC signee Garrett Davis smacked two home runs in his first two plate appearances in the opener. Davis, who drew intentional walks the remainder of the game, emerged just the third Post 11 batter to slug a homer this season. Jackson Massey and John Wooten each have one.

Davis clubbed a first-inning homer that scored Massey, who tripled. Zack Wright and Alex Casey, both Post 11 rookies, each supplied an RBI hit during the four-run outburst.

Wooten and Wright paced Wayne County with consecutive two-run hits in a seven-run, fourth-inning uprising.

Post 11 pounded out 14 hits overall.

Ahoskie (2-13) managed six hits in the nightcap, but again, Wayne County had too much offensive firepower.

Jay Rose ignited a six-run, second-inning rally with a lead-off double. Tyler Ham drove home Rose. Gourley collected a two-RBI single, and added a two-RBI double in the third.

Nolan Lancaster and Ham each provided an RBI single.

Wayne County earned its second straight regular-season sweep over Ahoskie and leads the all-time series 21-3.

Game 1

Ahoskie Post 102 000 00 -- 0 1 2

Wayne Co. Post 11 417 0x -- 12 14 0

Leading hitters -- Ahoskie -- Josh Morris 1-2. Wayne County -- Garrett Davis 2-2, HR, 2 RBI; Jackson Massey 1-2, 3B, RBI; Thomas Pilkington 2-2, RBI; Alex Casey 2-2, RBI; Jay Rose 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; John Wooten 1-4, 2 RBI; Chad Gurley 1-2; Zack Wright 1-3, RBI.

LOB -- Ahoskie 2, Wayne County 7.

IP H R ER BB SO

Ahoskie Post 102

Matthews (L) 3 12 12 12 3 3

Britt 1 2 0 0 1 0

Wayne County Post 11

Bullard (W, 1-0) 5 1 0 0 1 4

HBP -- Gurley (by Matthews).

Game 2

Ahoskie Post 102 000 10 -- 1 6 0

Wayne Co. Post 11 162 2x -- 11 11 0

Leading hitters -- Ahoskie -- Josh Morris 2-2, RBI; Brent Bowen 1-2; Dustin Briggs 1-3. Wayne County -- Walker Gourley 3-3, 2 2Bs, 4 RBI; Tyler Ham 3-3, 2 RBI; Nolan Lancaster 2-3, RBI; John Wooten 1-2, 2 RBI; Garrett Davis 1-3, RBI.

LOB -- Ahoskie 7, Wayne County 11. SB -- Ham, Lancaster, Gourley, Morris. CS -- Bowen. SF -- Wooten.

IP H R ER BB SO

Wayne County Post 11

Allen 3 2 0 0 1 2

Hinson (W) 1 2 1 1 0 2

Grice 1 2 0 0 0 0

WP -- Briggs. PB -- Cullipher 3. HBP -- Matthews (by Allen), Edgerton (by Burton).