LEGION: Post 11 rallies twice, takes pair of 1-run wins over West Craven

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 27, 2016 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

VANCEBORO -- Lady Luck, at times, has a very unkind way of running out on her date.

She stuck by Jack Casbarro's side Sunday evening.

The rising junior at Southern Wayne helped Wayne County Post 11 post 7-6 and 12-11 victories over Area I East newcomer West Craven Post 529 at Hughes Field.

Casbarro delivered the game-winning single in the opener. The right-hander retired all six batters he faced and emerged as the winning pitcher in relief in the nightcap.

"He's a gamer, a good ballplayer -- defensively, offensively, on the mound (and) we haven't used him. That might have been his second time on the mound all year," WC head coach Jason Sherrer said. "With a couple of guys coming up sore today, he came in and ate two innings, did a great job of throwing strikes and keeping them off base.

"There's no question he's a very intricate part of our lineup. When he's in there playing well, good things happen to us."

In the opener, West Craven built a 5-0 lead through the first two innings against Wayne County starter Nick Neal and reliever Ethan Chapin. Chapin yielded four second-inning runs, but silenced the Post 529 bats over the next four frames.

The right-hander retired 15 of the final 19 batters he faced.

West Craven scratched out just two hits during that stretch.

"When I first came in, I was a little bit rough and didn't get much chance to warm up in the bullpen," Chapin said. "Then after that first inning I was warmed up and (then I) just kind of cruised. I just tried to fool the batter, mix it up so they wouldn't know exactly what was coming at any time.

"I don't overpower (batters), hit spots and let put the ball in play and let the defense play behind me."

Chapin's double into the gap knotted the game at 5-5. Casbarro followed with his two-RBI base knock that eventually gave Wayne County its seven win during its last eight outings.

"In and up," Casbarro said of the pitch.

The nightcap?

A different story.

The two defenses combined for eight errors and just 11 earned runs.

Wayne County built an 8-2 advantage, but poor defensive execution allowed West Craven to seize an 11-8 lead through 41/2 innings of play.

"I wish our defense would be a little cleaner," said Sherrer, whose team committed six errors in 14 innings of work. "Same story all year. If we play defense, we can play with anybody. And if we don't, we can no doubt get beat by anybody."

Post 11 knotted the game at 11-all during its half of the fifth.

With one out and lead-off batter Chandler Matthews at first, Casbarro got plunked by starter Adam Amerson. Zack Smith cranked out a two-RBI single and rolled home on Josh Jernigan's RBI double -- his second extra-base knock of the game and third in the doubleheader overall.

Casbarro took over on the bump in the sixth and coaxed Post 529 into three fly balls, a ground out and two strikeouts during his two-inning appearance. It was Casbarro's first victory of his Senior Legion career.

Matthews legged out a sacrifice bunt to start the seventh. Smith (4-for-4, two RBI) drew a one-out walk and Jernigan laced a single down the left-field line. The ball bounced under the glove of Post 529's first baseman, and Matthews easily scored to complete the sweep.

Wayne County banged out 21 hits on the day -- four each by Smith and Jernigan. Matthews, Daniels, Spurgeon and Casbarro provided two hits apiece.

Post 11 returns home tonight to face Area I East newcomer Farmville Post 151. Game time is 7 p.m. at Scarborough Field.