Post 11
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 22, 2010 1:46 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- An inauspicious beginning led to a much-needed, and confidence-building result for Wayne County Post 11 on Monday evening.
Area I East Nemesis New Bern Post 24 scratched for a three-run advantage during its first three at-bats, but Wayne County fashioned an impression come-from-behind, 16-6 victory at Scarborough Field.
Post 11 claimed the best-of-three, regular-season series 2-1.
The outing resembled Wayne County's early-season start when it scored mercy-rule decisions over five of its first six opponents. Eight of nine starters logged at least one hit against three New Bern hurlers.
Kevin Wise (3 RBI), Tyler Edwards and Zack Mozingo (3 RBI) emerged the offensive leaders with three hits apiece. Overall, Post 11 hammered out 16 hits.
"It's fun leaving the ballpark with a good feeling, for sure," said Wayne County coach Rob Watt. "We hit the ball well."
New Bern owned the edge early.
Playing short-handed with no reserves, Post 24 seized a 4-1 advantage through 21/2 innings of play. Three passed balls, a walk and miscommunication on a fly ball that drifted from foul territory back into fair play allowed the visitors to take control.
Just one run was earned.
After Zack Chase yielded a bunt single to clean-up batter Bill Little, shortstop Tyler Edwards took a quick trip the mound. He told Chase to just throw strikes and let the defense work behind him.
Chase retired 13 of the next 16 batters he faced and benefited from an inning-ending double play in the seventh. He recorded seven punchouts and permitted six runs (two earned) on seven hits in seven innings.
"Zack showed some guts out there," said Watt. "He had a hard time with his command early, settled down. I think after the first two innings, he kept it right there and gave us a chance to win the ballgame."
Wayne County (9-5 overall, 3-3 South) tied the game at 4-4 in the third inning on Davis' RBI groundout, Chase's RBI single and a throwing error on a routine double-play ball.
Wise and Davis each provided an RBI single in the fourth.
Post 11 scored twice in the sixth, and broke the game open with 10 runs on eight hits in the final three innings of play. Zach Grantham's RBI sacrifice fly to shallow right field induced the mercy rule.
"We came to the ballpark with a good attitude today, a bunch of the guys were here early swinging the bats," said Watt. "Yesterday (Sunday), they knew they battled a good arm (against Rocky Mount). They knew they had some good ABs against him (Hobbs Johnson) and took those good ABs out there today.
"Put Kevin, Cody and Zack back in our lineup, good things are going to happen with those guys."
Wayne County is off today and begins a stretch of seven games in six days with a home outing against Kinston on Wednesday. First pitch is 7 p.m.