LEGION BASEBALL: Gipson files complete-game, two-hit gem

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on June 28, 2018 5:51 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

BETHEL -- Blake Gipson put Wayne County Post 11 in the driver's seat in Area I East Division play Wednesday evening.

The right-hander carved out a complete-game, two-hit gem as Post 11 dumped nemesis Pitt County, 5-3, in a pivotal division game contested at North Pitt HS. Wayne County not only seized sole possession of the division at 8-1, but also earned a regular-season sweep of Post 39 for the first time since 2015.

Pitt dipped to 9-3 in Area I East matters.

Gipson (2-0) retired the Post 39 side in order in the second, fifth and sixth innings. He allowed three runs (two earned), walked four and retired six Pitt batters on strikeouts.

"Blake was phenomenal on the mound," Post 11 head coach Adam Pate said.

Wayne County staged its game-winning rally, in the seventh, with just one hit.

Tied at 1-1, Case Kermode connected on a lead-off single. He stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball.

Pitt reliever Jacob Peaden struggled to find the strike zone and issued consecutive walks to Luke Frederick, Jack Casbarro and Landon Ginn. After a pitching change, Carson Smitherman drew an RBI, bases-loaded walk.

Ginn stole home to make it 4-1.

Christian Yarbrough supplied an RBI fielder's choice.

Post 39 climbed to within 5-3 on Philip Boykin's two-run home run, but could get no closer. Gipson, fittingly, filed the final out at first base on an assist from Tyler Daniels.

Post 11 cobbled out five hits on the night. Casbarro went 2-for-3, while Smitherman finished 2-for-3 with two RBI. Kermode ended the evening 1-for-2.