Post 11 playoff story

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 5, 2013 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Regular-season play is done.

Area I commissioner Bob Figulski emailed his decision to the athletic officers and coaches on Wednesday evening. He's elected to give all eight teams a shot at emerging as the Area I East Division tournament champion.

"Since the weather will not cooperate, let's beat it another way," Figulski said. "All regular-season games Thursday and beyond are cancelled. More than likely all the games could not be played and with teams missing four or five (division) games, it is hard to make a fair four-team selection."

Quarterfinal-round play begins Sunday with a best-of-three series at the top four seeds. Top-seeded Rocky Mount entertains eighth-seeded Edenton, No. 7 Albemarle-Elizabeth City is the guest of No. 2 Kinston, No. 5 Wilson travels to No. 4 Windsor and third-seeded Wayne County Post 11 plays host to sixth-seeded Pitt County Post 39.

All quarterfinal-round series must be completed by July 9. If three games cannot be played, the winner of the first game will advance to the semifinals, which is also a best-of-three series. The championship series remains a best-of-five with a starting date of July 14.

Forecasts call for less-threatening weather during the early portion of next week, but meteriologists caution that scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms can appear at any time. Figulski said he will accept weather postponements, but also warned that every effort must be made to play the game.

"If the scheduled field is too wet, the game will be played on the other team's field, is possible," Figulski said.

A total of 31 division games were rained out this season, including 13 since last Sunday. Wayne County (13-5 overall) has been involved in 14 washouts and will have played just four games in nearly three weeks when postseason play begins.

Recent storms have rendered Scarborough Field unplayable. Post 11 head coach Jason Sherrer said he hopes to have Southern Wayne ready for the Pitt County series. Post 39 has won three straight meetings against Wayne County, which leads the all-time series 74-61.