LEGION BASEBALL: Post 11 starts fast, knocks off Farmville

By Aviel Smolka
Published in Sports on June 15, 2018 5:51 AM

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By AVIEL SMOLKA

asmolka@newsargus.com

Wayne County Post 11 plays every game the same way and Thursday night was no different in a 9-3 win over Farmville Post 151.

"You want be as confident as you can, but you do always want to play every game the same way," Wayne County coach Adam Pate said. "We treat every opponent the same way and play to win every game no matter the situation."

Early in the game Wayne County looked unstoppable.

In second inning, Tyler Daniels and Lance Wise each hit RBI singles to give Wayne County a quick 2-0 lead.

"I played pretty well, but it was a great team effort," said Daniels. "In the batters' box Coach Pate tells us to attack so that's what I did."

The score was 4-0 when Luke Frederick hit an RBI triple and Jack Casbarro hit a RBI double.

Wayne County pushed its lead to 6-0 after Christian Yarbrough hit an RBI single, and Chance hit an RBI double.

In the fourth, Casbarro made the score 8-0 after he hit a RBI double and stole home base.

Daniels made the score 9-0 when he stole home.

Wayne County used defensive shifts to keep Farmville from scoring.

"We want to take away the middle of the field, that's the ultimate goal of the shift," said Pate. "We gave up a hit using a shift, but we'll take that because it was a single. Overall I was pleased it worked."

In the sixth, Wayne County took its foot off the gas and Farmville attempted to mount a comeback. With the bases loaded, Post 151 made the score 9-3 after a two-RBI single and a sacrifice fly.

"I wouldn't say we went cold offensively," said Pate. "They threw some decent arms at us."

Starting pitcher Josh Hartsfield pitched great only letting one batter reach base in three innings. Aryc Chrisman threw 3 strikeouts in two innings of work.

"I felt really good coming out of the bullpen tonight," said Chrisman. "I've had some arm issues, but I'm starting to get the feel back. It's been really good."

Ryan Sullivan struggled on the mound, but pitched himself out of jam in the sixth. Casbarro closed out the game in seventh by throwing a strikeout and forcing Farmville to ground out into a game-ending double play.

"When you have game like this it's frustrating when anybody gives up a run, you don't ever want to give a run up, but it's going to happen," said Pate. "Letting your players play through tough spots lets them mature and learn.

"On that double play we put guys in new positions and I'm happy to see them come up with a play."

Wayne County (9-1 overall, 3-0 Area I East) carries a seven-game win streak into Greenville this weekend. Post 11 faces Wilmington Post 10, Wallace and Jacksonville in the Area I vs. Area II Challenge at Pitt Community College.

"I think we're in a good spot. We have some guys leaving us this weekend, but I'm very excited about the team going forward," Pate said.