Post 11 stays alive with win

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 10, 2007 1:48 PM

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GARNER -- The near record-breaking heat on the Trojan Park diamond did little to deter Wayne County Post 11 outfielder Jackson Massey.

The veteran lead-off hitter homered to start Wayne County's day at the plate and he helped turn a critical double play in a 9-4, elimination-round victory over Randolph County in the N.C. Senior American Legion state tournament Thursday afternoon.

Wayne County (24-5 overall) faces Rowan County, an 8-7 loser to Cherryville, in another elimination game today. The two teams meet at 12:30 p.m.

One day after posting a season-low three hits, the Post 11 offense came to life at the plate and on the bases. Wayne County successfully swiped five bases in one inning and coerced the Randolph County catcher to throw two errors.

Massey had two hits, a walk and a stolen base. But the rising sophomore at Mount Olive College shared the stage with pitching workhorse T.J. Hinson. The big right-hander, whom coach Brad Reaves describes as the team's "bulldog," threw 6 2/3 innings in the sweltering conditions and seized his eighth win of the season.

Randolph used five hurlers in its final outing.

Tied at 2-2 in the fifth, Massey laced a two-strike fastball into left center field. The one-out double set the table for Walker Gourley, who drove a two-strike breaking pitch down the third-base line to score Massey.

Garrett Davis drew an intentional walk. One out later, Jay Rose delivered an RBI single to give Post 11 a two-run advantage.

Hinson (8-2) retired the order in the sixth, and the offense went to work again. Alex Casey was hit by a 1-2 fastball with one out, and Massey walked after Casey stole second. The duo executed a double steal which drew a dirt-dobber from the Randolph County catcher.

Casey scored and Massey trotted home when the Randolph County defense booted Walker Gourley's routine grounder. Gourley stole second and third base, and trotted home another throwing error.

Leading 7-2, Hinson retired the lead-off batter in the seventh. Justin Yow reached on an error and Scott Hayes singled to left. Bryson Windson knocked in Yow with a hard chopper that bounced over Gourley's head at shortstop.

Ben Bunting connected on an RBI single up the middle to make it 7-4. Reaves called Brandon Price from the bullpen to relieve Hinson, and the Lenoir Community College signee induced an inning-ending fly ball that Massey speared in the outfield. Massey doubled up Bunting off first to kill the comeback.

Wayne County answered with a two-run rally and advanced to day three of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament at Garner Magnet School.

2007 N.C. Senior

American Legion State

Tournament

(at Trojan Park, Garner)

Randolph County 001 100 200 -- 4 9 5

Wayne County 200 023 20x -- 9 9 1

Leading hitters -- Randolph County -- Hayes 2-4, RBI. Wayne County -- Jackson Massey 2-4, 2B, HR, RBI; Walker Gourley 3-5, 2 2Bs, RBI; Garrett Davis 1-3, 2 RBI; Alex Casey 1-3, RBI.

DP -- Randolph County 1, Wayne County 2. LOB -- Randolph County 5, Wayne County 10. SB -- Casey 2, Massey, Gourley 2, Davis, Rose, Hayes.

IP H R ER BB SO

Randolph County

McSwain (L) 4 2/3 6 4 4 4 1

Isaacs 2/3 0 2 2 1 0

Davis 2/3 1 1 0 1 1

Moore 1/3 1 2 1 0 0

Wayne County

Hinson (W, 8-2) 6 1/3 8 3 2 1 4

Price 1 2/3 1 0 0 0 1

Rose 1 0 0 0 0 2

HBP -- by Isaacs (Casey).