Saints' Jernigan tosses 2-hit gem

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on May 5, 2016 1:46 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- The reformation is complete.

Southern Wayne senior Josh Jernigan, rebranded after an abysmal junior campaign, authored a fitting end to his prep career under the lights at the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex on Wednesday evening.

The righty hurled a complete-game, two-hit classic against Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A and county rival Eastern Wayne -- a 2-0 victory to officially close the Saints' season.

Jernigan set the tone -- a disciplined, even-keeled air -- from the outset, inducing a fly ball from Eastern's Zack Smith. The can of corn was the first salvo of a disciplined outing from the senior, one which featured no runs and seven strikeouts.

The victory moved his record to 3-5 on the season, and in the eyes of SW head coach Jackson Massey, was the proper way for his senior to exit the hill.

"He's been our guy all year," Massey said. "He got into some tough situations out there, but he battled for us. Couldn't have happened to a better person."

The senior, leading 1-0 after an RBI single by Derek Holsinger in the second inning, weaved his way through infrequent spots of bother -- including a potentially disastrous third frame.

Eastern Wayne attempted to rally with two walks and a bunt, which loaded the bases. Jernigan, however, coaxed a Sunday hop out of Lee Daniels for an inning-ending play at first base.

It was classically trained poise in the face of maximum pressure.

The six-to-three stop was a frustrating turn for Eastern Wayne. It also typified a disturbing trend for the Warriors, who have now registered just seven hits over its last three contests.

Head coach Jabo Fulghum offered a succinct summation.

"Got to hit the baseball," Fulghum said. "Got to hit the baseball with runners in scoring position. Got to hit some hard balls on the ground."

The same could be said of Southern Wayne, which stranded a mind-bending 11 base runners on the night -- twice with the bases loaded. But Jernigan, whose star shone brightly over the diamond throughout, refused to let the Saints lose.

Facing EW righty Carlyle Smith in the sixth inning, Jernigan worked a solid count and ripped a line drive to left field. The RBI blast scored fellow senior Hunter Barwick and provided the Saints a 2-0 advantage.

The moment of self support was all that was necessary for Jernigan, who assumed the hill to finish the Warriors in a clean, quick seventh inning. His final varsity offering -- a strike to EW's Collin Nix -- prompted a stoic fist pump from the senior, who will attend North Carolina State University this fall.

"It's almost like fate," Massey said of Jernigan's decisive role. "Didn't have a good year last year... He's worked his tail off in the weight room, in the cages. He's one of the guys you pull for."

Weather permitting, Eastern Wayne (13-8 overall, 6-5 ECC) plays host to Charles B. Aycock today.