Wayne County drops opener to Pitt

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on July 6, 2013 11:54 PM

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By RYAN HANCHETT

rhanchett@newsargus.com

 DUDLEY -- Pitt County Post 39 built a huge lead after four innings and never looked back in a 9-5 win over Wayne County in the opening game of the American Legion Area I East Division playoffs on Saturday night at Southern Wayne High School.

The best-of-three series continues today. The teams are playing on the campus of East Carolina University at 3 p.m.

"After tonight all we can think about is winning game two and forcing a third game back home on Monday night," Wayne County assistant coach Jackson Massey said. "We need to go out and play to our ability and make plays we didn't make tonight."

Pitt County jumped in front with one run in the first inning and added an insurance run in the third that made the score 2-0. Post 39 broke the game open in the top of the fourth. Matt Sugg was hit by a pitch, Tyler Ables walked and Tyler Garrett reached on an error to load the bases.

Jehneil House forced in a run with a walk and Davis Kirkpatrick followed with an RBI single. Aaron Clark cleared the bases with a double and Kyle Cross plated an additional run when he reached on a second Wayne County miscue.

When the dust settled, Pitt County held an 8-0 lead.

"We walked too many guys and we didn't do a good job of pitching to contact," Massey said. "You can not give good teams extra outs and tonight (Pitt County) capitalized on a number of extra outs."

Wayne County got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning when Ryan Faucette singled, Justin Barbour doubled and Duane Gurganus belted a three-run home run.

Pitt County added a run in the seventh before Wayne County battled back in the eighth. Jacob Sasser doubled and scored on Kevin Williams' RBI single that cut the deficit to 9-4.

Wayne County scored again in the ninth when Barbour reached on an error, Gurganus singled and Chad Murphy delivered an RBI single to complete the 9-5 final.

"Our guys did a much better job over the last three innings of making adjustments at the plate," Massey said. "We just fell behind too far to get back."

Jarrett Ozimek pitched six innings for the mound win. Ozimek allowed six hits, three runs and struck out four batters.

Cody Wendorf suffered the loss for Wayne County.