Wilmington eliminates Wayne County from state tournament

By Mike Duprez
Published in Sports on July 29, 2014 1:49 PM

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By Mike Duprez, The Dispatch

LEXINGTON -- Corey Everett and Trey Croom each collected a pair of run-scoring singles as Wilmington Post 10 held off Wayne County, 5-3, marking the end of the season for Post 11 on Monday afternoon.

Post 11 fell behind 4-0 after four innings before battling back to make it a one-run game in the top of the eighth inning. Wayne County (18-9-1 overall) had the go-ahead run on second base in the eighth and the tying runs on in the ninth, but Wilmington reliever Tyree Johnson was able to work his way out of trouble in each inning.

"We made it a game," said Wayne County coach Jason Sherrer. "We made some defensive miscues and we didn't throw out a runner at the plate when we had a chance from the outfield. We just got behind the eight-ball.

"The left-hander came in, threw strikes and got a big double play. Tip your hats to them. They played a good game. So did we."

Wilmington's quest for a third consecutive state championship ended with a 4-2 loss to Shelby late Monday evening.

"Wayne County's got a scrappy bunch of kids," said Wilmington coach Tommy Bowker. "They play the game hard. They play it the right way."

Post 11 fell behind 4-0 as Wilmington scored two runs in the second inning and one each in the third and fourth.

Donovan Francis, the Wilmington starter, held Wayne County to one hit through the first five innings. Post 11 managed to push across a run in the fifth on Logan Miller's fielder's choice grounder as Wilmington committed three errors in the inning.

Post 11 made it a 4-2 game in the top of the sixth on Zack Smith's sacrifice fly. Chad Spurgeon and Hank Smitherman drew walks after that. Spurgeon took third on a wild pitch, but Smitherman was gunned down at second on the same play by Wilmington third baseman Shane Shepard to end the inning.

Ryan Faucette led off the eighth with a walk against Wilmington reliever Brandon Boone. Faucette was thrown out trying to steal and that loomed bigger later on because Smith, Spurgeon and Smitherman all followed with singles. Smitherman's single cut the lead to 4-3.

Bowker then summoned Johnson, the Texas Rangers draftee, who had pitched a seven-inning complete game Friday.

Johnson walked Coy Barnett to load the bases and Allen Coor worked him to a 3-2 count. But Johnson induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning as Wayne County got just one run on four hits.

"We've been aggressive all year," Sherrer said on the decision to send Faucette. "He's one of our best athletes. It is what it is. If we make the play, we look like geniuses."

Post 11 had two runners on and one out in the top of the ninth but Johnson struck out Faucette and Smith to end the game.

Tim Naughton, pitching for the first time since midway through the season due to injury, went the distance for Wayne County. Naughton gave up 10 hits and four earned runs while walking three and striking out three.

"He pitched very, very well," Sherrer said.

Miller and Smitherman both went 2-for-3.