Wayne County bullpen shuts down Post 24

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 16, 2010 1:47 PM

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NEW BERN -- The bullpen did it.

Zach Beachem and Matt Neal combined for three-plus innings of scoreless relief, and Wayne County Post 11 claimed an 8-5 decision over New Bern Post 24 on a rainy, sticky Tuesday evening at Boykin Field.

The Area I East Division rivals conclude their three-game, regular-season series today at Scarborough Field. First pitch is 7 p.m.

"The game is won and lost in the bullpen a lot of times," said Wayne County head coach Rob Watt. "Zach has been money both times he's come out of the bullpen for us. He came in, threw strikes, let the defense work and you can't ask for anything better than that.

"That's what you want when guys come in, throw it in the zone and do a good job. That was awesome."

Beachem relieved Adron Hollowell, who worked against an accordion-like strike zone that changed with each batter. Hollowell walked an uncharacteristic six Post 24 batters and surrendered four runs (two earned) in an elongated fifth inning that included a 48-minute rain delay.

Two throwing errors on pick-off plays allowed Post 24 to climb back into the South Division contest. Justin Godette contributed a two-RBI triple during that stretch.

New Bern trailed 6-5 with two runners in scoring position when Beachem took over in the sixth. The Eastern Wayne graduate recorded an inning-ending strikeout and retired seven of eight batters during his 2 1/3 innings of work.

Neal permitted a lead-off walk in the ninth, and sat down the next three Post 24 hitters to help Wayne County (7-2 overall) snap its two-game skid. Neal earned his second save during his Senior Legion career.

Zack Chase started and threw 75 pitches in four innings.

"Zack was outstanding tonight," said Watt. "It's too bad the rain came and he couldn't keep pitching because I felt like he settled in a little bit."

New Bern seized a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Post 24 right-hander Ross Leggett preserved the shutout until the fourth when Chase (4-for-5, four RBI) stroked a lead-off single up the middle. Cambric Moye reached on an error, and Hollowell executed a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single and one-base error.

Chase scored on the errant throw and Jordan Williams slapped a two-RBI single up the middle put Wayne County ahead 3-1.

"Jordan kind of jump-started us a little bit," said Watt.

Chase's two-RBI single and Moye's RBI sacrifice fly accounted for Wayne County's offensive production in the fifth. Chase laced a two-out, two-RBI single in the sixth.

Four Post 11 hurlers limited New Bern to six hits -- including three by lead-off batter Matt Towarnicky. Post 24 manufactured just three hits in the final six innings, and couldn't capitalize on 10 walks.