Johnson, Barnett combine for 13 strikeouts in Post 11 victory

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 2, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Wayne County Post 11 capitalized on early-inning opportunities and stayed unbeaten in Area I East play on a breezy, sun-splashed Sunday afternoon.

Southpaws Greg Johnson and Coy Barnett combined for 13 strikeouts on the rubber and Post 11 cranked out eight hits during its 12-2, mercy-rule triumph over Ahoskie Post 102.

"We played well," third-year Wayne County head coach Jason Sherrer said. "We capitalized early during the first two innings. When we got runners on, we got them over (and) got them in ... had some key hits.

"We executed our small-ball stuff."

Wayne County concluded the day 7-for-7 on stolen bases, including two each by lead-off batter Garrett Joyner and Kevin Williams. A perfectly executed double steal by Williams and Zack Smith led to Post 11's second run of the game during the first inning.

Smith (three RBI) delivered two of Post 11's five hits with runners in scoring position. Joyner (RBI) and Williams also provided two hits apiece, while Hank Smitherman contributed a pinch-hit RBI single.

Ryan Faucette batted 1-for-4 with an RBI.

"We have some speed and if we don't utilize it early and get used to that kind of gameplan, then certain times later in the season, if we haven't done it then it's going to be hard to realize we have to do those things," Sherrer said.

"We had a good (plate) approach early, which in turn was easier because we did have some run support with Greg, who left zeros (on the board) for the most part."

Johnson scattered four hits in a five-inning stint and retired nine Ahoskie batters on strikeouts. His defense turned a fourth-inning double play. Faucette and catcher Noah West combined to throw out a Post 102 runner at the plate on a double-steal attempt to end the inning.

A rising sophomore at Methodist University, Johnson collected his third career victory in a Legion uniform.

"Greg threw a good game, he kind of got tired at the end because he was upwards to a hundred pitches or so," Sherrer said. "He pitched very well, pitched down in the zone for the most part and put us in a good spot offensively. He looked a little more loose ... free and easy throwing to the plate.

"I feel like it was a little stress-free on his body throwing today than last Saturday (May 31st against Apex)."

Barnett provided two innings of one-hit, four-strikeout relief. He yielded a two-RBI single to Ahoskie's Everett Sawyer. Those two unearned runs were charged to Johnson, who allowed the first two Post 102 batters to reach base in the sixth.

Wayne County (2-2-1 overall, 1-0-1 Area I East) built a 6-0 lead after two innings. Sherrer's club invoked the mercy rule with a five-run, fourth-inning uprising.

It was Ahoskie's season-opening game.