Wilson sweeps Wayne County in Area I East championship series

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on July 17, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Wilson Post 13 completed its sweep of Wayne County Post 13 by a 7-6 score in the Area I East Division championship series Thursday evening.

The three games were decided by a total of four runs.

"Losing is loing to me," Wayne County head coach Jason Sherrer said. "I don't think there's any shame in losing three games. They were well fought games. f we would have played sound defense, I think there would have been a very seriously different outcome in all three games."

The lead changed hands on three occasions in Game 3.

Lee Daniels put Post 11 on the board with a second-inning RBI single that scored Jake Naughton.

Wilson answered in the top of half of the third inning. Charlie Vaughn reached on a single, advanced to third on a throwing error from starting pitcher Tanner Wells, and scored on a flyout to center from Jarrett Mobley.

Vaughn added a two-RBI double in the next inning that helped extend Post 13's advantage to 4-1.

Wayne County answered with two runs in the fourth and sixth innings, and run in the fifth. However, it couldn't protect its lead.

Naughton, who came on in the top of the sixth to relieve Wells, gave up three eighth-inning runs. RBI hits from Dwanye Sutton as well as Jake and Luke Taylor would seal the deal for Wilson.

The comeback was hardly suprising for head coach Rusty Dail, who had seen his team rally from two games down to beat Kinston in the semifinals.

"We've battled and we've been fortunate," said Dail, whose team extended its win streak to five games with four resulting in one-run outcomes. "These games could have gone either way. It very easily could have been 3-0 them. They've got a good team.

"They have good pitchers, good hitters and an awesome defense. We're fortunate to win, especially to win three in a row."

Jeff Hagen started for Wilson and allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. Naughton endured his second pitching defeat in the series.

"He doesn't let anything get to him," Sherrer said. "He's going to pitch his game regardless of the score or the inning or batter. He has a good feel for his stuff and we let him call his own game."

Wayne County concluded the season 18-8 overall. Bobby Hampton and Hank Smitherman are headed to Appalachian State and Lenoir-Rhyne, respectively. Naughton, Chad Spurgeon and Coy Barnett aren't sure of their collegiate futures.

"These guys are still going to play some baseball," Sherrer added. "It's always good to know that they're going to keep going on and pursue a career in baseball, and maybe have it pay a little for college -- which is always nice."