Wayne County walk-off winners

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on July 3, 2012 1:48 PM

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DUDLEY -- Duane Gurganus picked up his first mound win of the senior American Legion season as Wayne County rallied for a 7-6 victory over Wilson County on Monday night.

Wayne County improved to 9-5 overall (4-2 division).

"We have been doing the same thing all season," Post 11 head coach Jason Sherrer said. "We hang around in the early innings and try to adjust late and put some hits together and come away with a win."

Collin Dubose got the home team off to a good start with a solo home run in the first inning.

Wilson battled back with a run in the top of the third and took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. After Wayne County tied the game at two on Will Winslow's RBI double, the visitors pulled ahead 4-2 in the fifth when two Post 11 errors led to two unearned runs.

Wayne County pulled within 4-3 when Jaime Dove singled in the fifth, stole second and scored on a Wilson County error. Wilson County answered with one run in the seventh.

Post 11 tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when Hunter Barnett delivered a pinch-hit single and Dubose was hit by a pitch. Zack Mozingo drew a walk to load the bases. Cameron Taylor hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-4 and Tyler Gainey and Gurganus each drew a walk and forced in the tying run.

"There have been times that we have waited too long to get it together at the plate but tonight we got the timing right," Sherrer said. "We got into their bullpen and we were patient at the right time."

Wayne County took a 6-5 lead in the eighth inning when Barnett doubled and scored on a single from Dove. Wilson County answered again in the top of the ninth when Spencer Boykin singled home Braxton Lamm.

Gurganus limited the damage and Post 11 turned its attention to its final at-bat. Mozingo led off with a single and moved to second when Taylor delivered a base hit. Tyler Gainer loaded the bases when he beat out a potential sacrifice bunt.

Gurganus emerged the hero with a walkoff single up the middle.

"I was looking first pitch fastball and that is what I got," Gurganus said. "I was just trying to get a ball in the air to drive in the run, but the ball was in the middle of the plate and I hit it hard enough to get past the second baseman."

Sherrer was particularly pleased with what he saw from his team in the final inning.

"Duane came in and threw the ball well and he held it together and gave us a chance to win," Sherrer said. "Then we string a few hits together and Duane gets the game-ending hit... It doesn't get much better than that for a pitcher."

Cameron Taylor took a no-decision after a start that lasted seven innings. Taylor allowed five runs on 10 hits and struck out three batters.

"Cameron was really good for us last year and so far I have been happy with the way he has thrown his last two starts," Sherrer said. "We gave away a couple of runs in the middle of the game with a pair of errors but overall I thought he threw well."

Post 11 will be back in action tonight against Kinston. First pitch from the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex is 7 p.m.