Wayne County South captures playoff victory

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on July 16, 2008 1:46 PM

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DUDLEY -- It was not pretty, but it was entertaining.

Wayne County South outlasted East Carteret by a 4-3 final in a back-and-forth, Junior American Legion playoff game that featured nearly as many errors as hits.

"We definitely didn't help out our pitchers tonight," said Wayne South coach Trae McKee. "We know we have to play better defense, but I am glad that we did enough to scratch out a win."

WC South pitcher Will Broadwell sailed along early in the game.

The hard-throwing hurler cruised through the first three innings without allowing a single base runner. Four of the nine outs resulted in strikeouts.

"Will was really tough, all night," said McKee. "He threw strikes and kept guys off-balance... he threw well."

Wayne South jumped out in front in the first inning when Jordan Williams reached on an East Carteret miscue and Scott Holloman crossed the plate.

In the top of the fourth East Carteret stormed back to take a 2-1 lead.

A pair of singles from Ryan Springle and Brad Lanier were compounded by a Wayne South error which put both runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Matt Robinson tied the game and a second Wayne South bobble with two out put the visitors in front 2-1.

The home team battled back in the bottom half of the frame.

Williams lined a single and stole second base ahead of Cody Richards' RBI double. Two pitches later Matt Neal ripped a single and put South back in the lead 3-2.

Following a bunt single by Dontay Boseman, Cody Davis popped into an inning-ending double play.

"There were times tonight where we needed to get a big hit and we didn't come through," said McKee. "Really, we didn't even need a big hit, just a ground ball or two in the middle of the infield to get guys in."

With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Wayne South went back to work at the plate.

Keenan Winn led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on Neal's fielder's choice groundout. Fittingly, the game's eventual winning run was the result of an East Carteret two-base error.

Winn raced to second in order to break up a possible double play only to see the relay throw soar into right center field. Never slowing down, Winn wheeled around third and beat a wild throw to the plate.

On the night the two teams combined for eight errors.

With his team ahead 4-3, Neal was called upon to slam the door in the final inning. The right-hander promptly did so by striking out two of the four batters he faced.

"Matt is a guy we are confident in ... in that situation," said McKee. "In a tight situation that's the guy we are going to."

Wayne County South faces D.H. Conley at home in the next round.