07/29/08 — Wayne County 9U's win Regional

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Wayne County 9U's win Regional

By From staff reports
Published in Sports on July 29, 2008 1:44 PM

From staff reports

STAFFORD, Va. -- Wayne County benefited from a fourth-inning uprising and claimed the 2008 Babe Ruth 9U Southeast Regional title with a 6-2 victory over Glen Allen (Va.) on Monday afternoon.

Wayne County, directed by head coach Steve Wells, finished 4-0 in the double-elimination event contested on the Mountain View High School diamond. Wells' team compiled a 9-0 record overall during the postseason, which included a 5-0 worksheet in the Eastern N.C. State tournament.

Tied at 2-2 after 31/2 innings, Wayne County went to work in the fourth.

Hunter Burt rapped a lead-off single and advanced to third on Evan Aycock's pinch-hit sacrifice bunt. Lee Daniels hit into a fielder's choice, but Burt beat the throw home to score what proved to be the game-winning run.

Daniels took third on a wild pitch and remained on base when lead-off batter Chandler Gentry drew a walk. Gentry stole second and Daniels trotted home on Chandler Matthews' RBI single.

Matthews, the son of Charles B. Aycock girls' tennis and softball coach Brad Matthews, stole second to keep the pressure on Glen Allen's defense. Derek Neal drew a walk to load the bases. One out later, Tanner Bradley coerced the pitcher into walk and earned an RBI when Matthews touched the plate.

Wayne County added a sixth-inning run on a throwing error for 6-2 final.

Glen Allen seized a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first. Wayne County answered with Daniels' two-out, two-RBI triple in the second inning to forge a 2-2 deadlock.

Burt and Matthews led Wayne County with two hits apiece. Gentry, Dean, Neal and Jake Flowers each contributed one hit. Flowers made an appearance in the fifth inning.