Wayne County beats Post 13

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 28, 2012 1:48 PM

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WILSON -- Despite struggling with runners in scoring position, Wayne County Post 11 scratched out another Senior Legion baseball victory Sunday afternoon.

First-year head coach Jason Sherrer hopes the trend ends soon.

Jacob Sasser supplied a pivotal mid-game double and Jeremy Taylor threw seven strong innings in a 7-3 triumph over Area I East nemesis Wilson Post 13 at historic Fleming Stadium.

Wayne County (2-0 overall) stranded 15 runners, including seven in scoring position, against five Post 13 pitchers. In two games, Sherrer's squad has left a whopping 32 runners on the basepaths.

"Until that last inning when we had two bunt singles, I think we've gotten away from our unselfish at-bats," Sherrer said. "Instead of moving runners over on first and second with no outs, we're just popping up and punching out. I think the guys are trying a little too much to do too many things that they capable of, but are not quite in the situation where they're doing it at the right times.

"We've got some young guys who are still learning."

Post 11 grabbed a 3-0 lead after 1/2 inning of play.

Newcomers Will Winslow and Austin Hinton (2-for-4) each connected on an RBI single with runners in scoring position. But Wayne County went hitless during its next five at-bats in run-scoring opportunities and didn't strike again until the sixth inning.

Clinging precariously to a 3-2 lead, Clayton Cashwell stroked a lead-off single into left field and swiped second base. Two outs later, Zack Mozingo walked and Post 13 reliever Taylor Longson plunked Winslow to load the bases.

Sasser, in his first career Legion start, laced a double down the left-field line to give Taylor a three-run cushion.

"Huge hit," Sherrer said.

Taylor (1-0) threw 101 pitches in a seven-inning stint and permitted three earned runs on seven hits. Post 13 stranded runners in eight of nine innings and Post 11 turned a phenomenal fourth-inning double play.

With no outs and runners at first and second base, Wayne County third baseman Tyler Gainey dove to catch a bunt pop-up by Cody Pittman. He fell backwards and made a looping throw to second baseman Duane Gurganus, who tagged Robbie Stokely to complete the twin killing.

Wilson (1-2) tallied a single run in the sixth, but never seriously threatened against Taylor. Hunter Barnett and Mozingo combined for two innings of two-strikeout scoreless relief.

"Jeremy did great, had command of his fastball early which kept them at bay," Sherrer said. "The second and third time threw the lineup, we threw more off-speed stuff and he went through more three-, four- and five-ball counts to put his pitch count up there.

"He got outs when he needed to get outs."