Pitt County edges Post 11

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 13, 2007 1:48 PM

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WINTERVILLE -- Brian Avery crossed home on a ninth-inning wild pitch and Pitt County 160 escaped with a 10-9 victory over Wayne County Post 11 on the South Central High School diamond Thursday evening.

The loss dropped Wayne County (13-3 overall) into second place in the Area I East South Division standings at 6-3 behind New Bern. The two teams, rained out Wednesday, meet again today at New Bern with the division title at stake.

Pitt County 160 snapped its three-game losing streak and took a one-game lead over Snow Hill Post 94. The two teams meet tonight in Snow Hill to determine the final playoff berth for the season-ending, eight-team division tournament.

If Post 160 wins, it will tie archrival Pitt County 39 for third place. Pitt 160 owns the tiebreaker due to its regular-season sweep of the two-time defending Area I East Division champion.

Trailing 7-2, Wayne County eventually forged ahead 9-7 on the strength of three home runs. But Post 11 couldn't keep the momentum and eventually suffered its second road loss to a Pitt County opponent this season.

T.J. Hinson relieved starter Brandon Price and retired eight consecutive batters heading into the ninth. Hinson (4-2) plunked lead-off batter Billy Walling and a lack of communication between Post 11's outfielders allowed Gavin Mizelle's routine fly ball drop safely for a double.

Walling scored on a wild pitch to pull Post 160 within 9-8.

Hinson coerced Brian Avery into a game-tying, RBI grounder. Post 11 overthrew to first base and Avery advanced to second base. Tim Conrad moved Avery to third with a single and sent Hinson to the dugout.

Post 11 skipper Brad Reaves called upon North Carolina signee Garrett Davis, who earned the save 10 days ago against the same team. Working with no outs and runners on the corners, Davis struck out Josh Worthington on a 3-2 breaking pitch.

Davis intentionally walked Kramer Sneed to load the bases. The lanky right-hander fanned Spencer Fagan on a 1-2 curveball for the second out. Logan Hessert fell behind 0-1 in the count, but Davis' next pitch bounced in the dirt and rolled to the backstop.

Avery scored and Post 160 collected its third victory over Post 11 in their last four meetings.

Walker Gourley just missed hitting for the cycle in Wayne County's 14-hit attack. The shortstop singled twice, doubled and slugged a home run in a 4-for-6, two-RBI outing. Zack Wright (2-for-4) and Will Edgerton (1-for-4) each smacked a home run.

Davis, Jackson Massey, Jay Rose (two RBI) contributed two hits apiece.

Post 11 stranded 11 runners on base and hit into two double plays.

Post 11 101 022 021 -- 9 14 3

Pitt Co. 160 133 000 003 -- 10 15 4

Leading hitters -- Wayne County -- Jackson Massey 2-5; Walker Gourley 4-6, 2B, HR, 2 RBI; Garrett Davis 2-4; Jay Rose 2-5, 2 RBI; Will Edgerton 1-4, HR, 2 RBI; Zack Wright 2-4, 2B, HR, RBI. Pitt County 160 -- Logan Hessert 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Aaron Sharpe 2-5, RBI; Billy Walling 2-3; Tim Conrad 3-5; Josh Worthington 1-3, HR, 3 RBI.

DP -- Pitt County 160 2. LOB -- Wayne County 11, Pitt County 160 11. SB -- Massey, Rose, Davis. SH -- Fagan.

IP H R ER BB SO

Wayne County

Price 2 1/3 10 7 4 1 0

Hinson (L, 4-2) 5 1/3 3 5 3 2 0 6

Davis 2/3 0 0 0 1 2

Pitt County 160

Fagan 6 11 6 5 1 1

Sharpe 2 2/3 3 3 2 3 1

Rasberry (W) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1

WP -- Sharpe, Hinson, Davis. HBP -- Walling (by Hinson), Walling (by Hinson), Wright (by Sharpe).