Wilmington Post 10 hands Post 11 embarassing home loss

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 9, 2012 11:12 PM

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DUDLEY -- Forget about it and move on.

But learn from it.

The Wayne County Post 11 coaching staff offered that simple, yet stinging advice after a 15-5, non-division loss to Wilmington Post 10 on Thursday evening at the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex.

"You've got to come out and be ready to play every game," Post 11 assistant coach Jackson Massey said. "We've got to come out and win inning by inning."

Wilmington won every inning but one.

Chance Shepard swatted a first-inning, three-run home run to spearhead a 13-hit attack. Chris Hicks contributed two hits and collected five RBI, while Tyler Kosh and Collin Thacker (two RBI) cranked out two hits apiece.

Wayne County pitchers combined to walk 12 batters and were victimized by four errors. Wilmington had six of nine lead-off batters to reach base in the 3-hour, 29-minute marathon.

Jacob Sasser took the loss. Southpaw Bryant Stafford tossed 52⁄3 innings of four-strikeout, one-hit relief. Zack Mozingo surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and walked six in two-plus innings.

Duane Gurganus recorded Post 10's final out.

"Our pitchers ... we're very disappointed in our staff as a whole tonight," Massey said. "Every time we'd run a guy out there, they'd run up a five- or six-pitch count and we can't afford to walk guys like that ... too many free passes.

"A team like that, they're going to capitalize on our mistakes, whether it's an error, walk or passed ball. We've just got to be better every part of the game."

Wayne County (4-2 overall) manufactured its five runs off of eight hits, six walks and three hit batsmen against five Post 10 pitchers. Mozingo and outfielder Hunter Barnett each batted 2-for-5. Cameron Taylor recorded an eighth-inning, two-RBI single.

Jamie Dove stroked an RBI single in the eighth. Justin Barbour doubled and Will Winslow, who was plunked twice, singled in the sixth.

Wayne County stranded 12 runners, struck out 11 times and saw its 13-game home win streak end.

"Our approach is not where we want it to be right now and we'll get there, but a lot of times our guys think that when we get that one strike on us we have to swing at the next pitch no matter what it is," Massey said. "Once we chase that, that gives us two strikes and then we take that third strike. Too many punchouts, too many bad at-bats.

"Tonight wasn't our night. They beat us in every aspect of the game."

Wayne County takes a three-day break before playing host to South Division foe West Craven on Monday and Area I West member Clayton on Tuesday. Each game begins at 7 p.m.