South ends two worrisome skids

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on June 26, 2009 1:46 PM

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DUDLEY -- Wayne County South ended its string of 15 scoreless innings and snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 14-3 romp over Wayne County North on Thursday evening.

All nine South starters recorded at least one hit in the five-inning, mercy-rule contest.

"It just feels good to break that streak," said South head coach Trae McKee. "We had a couple of rough weeks, and it is great to play a good game and come out on top."

North seized a 2-0 lead during its first at-bat.

South (8-10 overall) quickly answered.

Tyler Gainey delivered a one-out single and scored on Duane Gurganus' double. Keenan Winn supplied an RBI double and Taylor Brock drew a walk before racing home on Ashton Cox's two-RBI double.

North (6-6) pulled within one run on Logan Wicks' sacrifice fly. But the visitors wouldn't get that close again.

South sent 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run, third-inning outburst. Three walks, Keith Jones' RBI single and Cody Davis' two-RBI double chased North starter Zach Beachum from the mound. Hunter Barnett appeared in relief and couldn't stop the surge.

After a miscommunication between the North dugout and the home plate umpire, Zach Grantham drew an intentional walk with one out and led to Wayne North head coach Roger May's ejection.

"We didn't have it tonight," said May. "It was just one of those games where nothing seemed to go right."

South invoked the mercy rule one inning later.

Cox and Jones drew back-to-back walks. Davis belted an RBI single and Gainey singled to load the bases. Gurganus drove in Jones with a sacrifice fly and Grantham capped the scoring with an RBI single.

Gurganus threw a perfect fifth to end the game.

"Duane played a great game," said McKee. "He has a really strong mound presence, and when he is locating his pitches he gets in the zone and he's very good."

South entertains Vance County on Saturday, while North travels to county foe and division-leading Charles B. Aycock today.