ECBL: Southern Wayne Blue eases past Eastern Wayne

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on June 15, 2016 1:48 PM

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DUDLEY -- Call it a textbook performance.

Southern Wayne Blue, in control and pragmatic throughout, filed a start-to-finish, 6-1 triumph over Eastern Carolina Baseball League foe and county rival Eastern Wayne on Tuesday evening.

The victory was a comprehensive showcase for the Saints, who managed volume production from each portion of their lineup card.

Starting pitcher Justin Edwards made quick work of the Warriors in the opening frame, retiring the side in order on three consecutive fly balls. The effort was a bit of foreshadowing from the righty, who dealt suggestively to each part of the strike zone over four innings of solid frame work.

From there, Southern Wayne went to work offensively.

After Derek Holsinger reached on an infield error, the Saints received RBI doubles from Josh Grady and Lance Wise. The opening-inning salvo was part of a banner night for the duo, who batted a combined 4-for-6 with 3 RBI.

Southern Wayne led 2-0.

Edwards continued to frustrate Eastern Wayne through the second and third innings, managing counts effectively and coaxing the Warriors into routine ground balls throughout the infield. On the night, Edwards allowed just one run on four hits, and also tendered a strikeout.

The effort was lauded by Southern Wayne skipper Jackson Massey.

"Pitching did well," the coach said. "We just have to get better with our offspeed, getting our curve ball and changeup over.

"But we played some really good defense behind (them)."

Southern piled on additional runs in the third, crossing Noah Horton on a bloop RBI from Grady and Holsinger on a wild pitch. The frenzy prompted an EW pitching change -- and ultimately, a surprise -- in the form of staff newcomer Keyon Gaines.

"He's been begging me to let him throw," head coach Walker Gourley said. "And I finally budged... the fastball's down hill and he competes in the zone. He grew a lot today."

Over 2 2/3 innings, Gaines allowed one run on one hit. He also registered two strikeouts.

It simply wasn't enough, however.

The Saints plated insurance-binding coverage in the sixth, crossing two more runs which signaled the practical end to their station-to-station victory.

Kolby Anderson appeared in relief of Edwards, tossing three innings of one-hit work. The righty's ledger included a litany of ground-ball outs and a quartet of strikeouts.

Eastern Wayne was paced offensively by Jason Mitchell, who finished the evening 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Landon Ginn also went 2-for-3 with a run scored. First baseman Jay Wiseman also contributed an up-the-middle single in the third inning.

Southern Wayne Blue plays host to Charles B. Aycock White on Thursday. Eastern Wayne welcomes Southern Wayne White at New Hope.