Wayne South wins on Dove's walk-off homer

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on June 10, 2011 1:47 PM

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DUDLEY -- Wayne South nearly waited too long to get its offense going on Thursday night.

The big bats finally woke up in the fifth inning.

South blasted two home runs in the final two innings, including a walk-off shot from Jaime Dove, and came from behind for a 6-5 win over Cleveland on the Junior American Legion baseball scene.

"We hit balls hard all night it just seemed like the first few innings they were all getting caught," Wayne South coach T.J. Henson said. "As the game went along we were able to get some of those shots to fall and plate some runs."

Cleveland jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the first three innings as Wayne South scuffled at the plate. South finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Kevin Williams reached on an error and scored on a single by Clayton Cashwell.

After the visitors made the score 5-1, South went back to work in the bottom of the sixth.

Dove doubled to center field and Ashton Cox drew a walk. Jacob Sasser drove a home run over the let field fence to get the home team within one run.

"We gave our selves a chance to get back in the game and it kind of came together late," Henson said. "Jacob hit a big shot for us and then Jaime came up and delivered too."

Cashwell opened the seventh inning with a walk, stole second and scored the game-tying run when Colton Chrisman reached on an error. After Chrisman was picked off of first base the game seemed destined for extra innings, but Dove had other ideas.

After taking a first-pitch strike Dove hammered a walk-off home run to send the Wayne South fans home happy.

"Jaime has good power when he gets his arm extended," Henson said. "He got a pitch up and didn't miss it."

Jacob Hollingsworth pitched two innings of perfect relief to earn the win on the pitcher's mound. Hollingsworth retired all six batters he faced.

Wayne South (3-2 overall) plays host to Snow Hill tonight.