Packard's home run sparks Conley past Southern Wayne

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on March 21, 2015 11:28 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Bryant Packard was already rounding first base by the time the ball landed.

Packard, Conley's third hitter in the lineup and starting third baseman, wasted no time, sending the second pitch he saw from Southern Wayne pitcher Josh Jernigan over the right-field wall for a two-run home run.

It was the fast start Conley wanted.

The Vikings didn't take their foot off of the gas, benefited from nine walks and handed Southern Wayne a 12-2 loss in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference game Saturday afternoon.

Packard finished the day 4-for-4 with four RBI.

"We swung the bats better today," DHC head coach Jason Mills said. "Last game against Northern Nash it seemed like we kind of went through the motions. Today, we got a big start with Packard hitting that home run which gave us a little bit of confidence."

The Vikings scored at least two runs, including four in the second, in every inning. They got other offensive contributions from Jake Pollard, Travis Cross and Kevin Wrought -- who each had two RBI.

On the mound, starter Phillip Sanderson overcame a shaky start and went the distance for Conley. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, walked one and struck out five Southern Wayne batters. His best inning may have been his last -- he struck out the side on 11 pitches.

Mills thought Sanderson could have thrown the ball better.

"I don't think he threw particularly well," Mills said. "He's coming back from a little shoulder soreness, and I think he was a little timid today. His velocity was down, but his changeup got better as the game went on.

"He went out and competed though, and that's what we're going to need from him as the season goes on."

Southern Wayne, for the second time in three games, struggled on the mound.

"I think (our weakness) is our pitching, and I don't think there's any doubt about that," Saints head coach Jackson Massey said. "But the difference between Conley and other teams is that Conley can really hit the ball. Our pitching has got to step up, and more times than not we haven't."

Starter Josh Jernigan only lasted 2 1/3 innings while allowing eight runs on four hits and seven walks.

"The main thing we try and tell them is to just challenge the hitters," Massey said. "I'd rather see them hit ones into the net then walk down to first base. We've got to challenge them."

Southern Wayne visits South Central on Tuesday.