Wayne South takes down Snow Hill
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on July 2, 2010 1:46 PM
SNOW HILL -- One blast was all it took.
Jaime Dove got Wayne South on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the top of the third inning and opened the flood gates for an offensive explosion as Wayne South bested Snow Hill 13-4 in Junior American Legion baseball action.
"That was a big hit for us because we were struggling to get it together early," Wayne South head coach Trae McKee said. "Our guys got some confidence and the hits started coming."
Snow Hill owned the first two innings before the Wayne South rally.
Trent Murray plated a run in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double. Snow Hill added three runs in the second stanza when Chad Murhpy doubled, Landon Elmore follwed with a double and Ryder McLawhorn stroked an RBI base hit. Murray made the score 4-0 with his second hit in as many innings.
Dove delivered his momentum changing home run in the top of the third and the Wayne South offense awoke in the visitors half of the fourth.
Ashton Cox singled to lead off the at-bat but was erased on a fielder's choice one batter later. Keith Jones followed with a single and Thomas Kelly delivered an RBI base hit. Dove reached on an error ahead of Taylor Gainey's two-run double and Zach Grantham plated a run with a productive out.
Taylor Brock launched the second home run of the game for Wayne South one batter later.
"Taylor had one of those nights where he was seeing the baseball really well," said McKee. "Every time he came to the plate he came through with a big hit."
Brock added a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning. The tall first baseman finished the night with four hits and five RBI.
Jackson Hayes tossed 2 1/3 innings to earn the win on the pitcher's mound. Jamar Holmes and Will Raynor each added a perfect relief stint. Raynor struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
Wayne South (15-5 overall) will host the Junior American Legion regional tournament beginning on July 8. The double-elimination bracket will feature games at Southern Wayne High School and Mount Olive College.