I got the idea for this blog last winter. I'm not the most tech savvy person around, so I was a bit apprehensive about trying it. In prior seasons, I collected emails, then sent stories to people on the list. This is a way to reach a wider audience.
It succeeded, to say the least. I've gotten complimentary responses from people in various parts of the state. This encourages me to do it again in 2008. It also allows people who want to check in on how we're going to get their scores and info first thing in the morning.
Now, some thanks to the people who do the work behind the scenes and in front of you. First, the knuckleheads at the gate. Many come, but few are willing to sit and collect money. So, thanks ladies.
The woman in the concession stand. She always made sure I got my hot dogs; otherwise I would have gone to work for the Wilson crowd. And she doesn't get to watch the games!
Our announcer is an acquired taste for some, but you can't say he is boring. And he cares enough to get the names right, no small thing from what I've heard elsewhere. I'd like to hear some Lynyrd Skynyrd opening a few games next season.
Athletic officer Sam Sasser has brought a much-need energy to the position. we'll have to keep Grant as a batboy so we don't lose Sam.
Our coaches, as do almost all coaches, work hard to get everything out of the players. Now, if our head coach could just quit antagonizing those folks from Caldwell County....
Finally, but most important, the players, my most special friends. To the ones who won't be returning, don't forget what this program gave you. Don't turn your back on it. Come to the field often and contribute something in time or money to help this program continue to be one of the premier ones in the state.
I will see you in May of 2008.
e hënë, 13 gusht 2007
2007 Final Statistics
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVrEc8aVMNlAEw
Players who would like stats from previous seasons, well, I don't keep that stuff. I throw everything away.
I hope you believe that.
Players who would like stats from previous seasons, well, I don't keep that stuff. I throw everything away.
I hope you believe that.
e diel, 12 gusht 2007
Wayne finishes Second in State for Fifth Time
I'm going to post the stats for the end of the season later today.
Wayne County's first American Legion state title will not come in 2007.
After taking care of Caldwell County 6-1 in the first game Sunday afternoon at Garner High School, Wayne had high hopes of bringing home the big trophy. Post 11 ace Garrett Davis was on the mound, and the bats were working.
But it wasn't to be. Cherryville's Chris Henderson limited Wayne to two hits and struck out 12 as Post 100 beat Post 11 6-1 to claim another state title and head for the regional in Georgia.
In the who-would-have-believed-it department, both of Wayne's losses in the double elimination event came with Davis as the starting pitcher. In stark contrast to the run support the other starters received, Davis' teammates scored one run in his two games. He pitched 11 innings, allowing five runs, including three earned.
'Garrett didn't lose. We lost," said Wayne coach Brad Reaves."Give us a 5 or 7 game series and we beat anyone at the tourney. I'll take my second place team over any team there." Wayne finished its most successful season since 2004 with a 27-6 mark.
Henderson didn't display Davis' fastball but he did show a solid command of the strike zone and an ability to keep the Wayne batters off balance almost the entire game. "That's what he did," said Reaves. "He mixed it up and I think we were out of gas."
Henderson hit Jay Rose on a 3-2 pitch to open the second, and the Post 11 players sensed an opening.
But none developed. Wayne's next runner came in the fifth on a Thomas Pilkington single. He was quickly erased on a double play.
Davis came into the sixth having avoided giving up a run thanks to a pair of good defensive plays, and he looked ready to go deep into the game having thrown 64 pitches. But his good fortune soon left him.
With one out, Payden Houser singled up the middle. Steven Hoyle's grounder was misplayed to put runners on first and second. Houser advanced on a wild pitch, and Paul finger sent a breaking pitch through the left side for the first run. the runners advanced on a grounder.
Then Henderson helped his own cause by lining the first pitch to right centefield for another two runs. Davis fanned the next batter, but he had thrown 26 pitches that inning and was through.
Cherryville's hurlers are not under any constraints in the pitch count department, but Henderson was in good shape anyway. He would go the distance and throw 115 with only one inning of more than 16.
Jackson Massey took over in the seventh and retired the side in order, but he couldn't sustain it in the eighth. After the first two batters went down, Finger reached on a bloop double to right. Jake Watts scored him with a single to right. Watts stole second and came home on a hit by Henderson. Henderson went to second on an error and scored on Aaron Haynes' single to center. The last two hits came on 1-2 pitches. Sterling Price came in and got the final out.
Wayne clung to the hopes of a last-inning rally after pinch hitter Zack Wright reached on an error and Will Edgerton doubled to right. Henderson, however, was not to be denied. He fanned Massey on three breaking pitches. A run scored as Walker Gourley was safe on an error, and Henderson got the next batters to send the Post 100 team on the field to celebrate.
in the first game of the afternoon, Wayne got another chance at Jimmy Messer, this time with better results. The UNC-bound right-hander wasn't as sharp as in the tournament opener, allowing eight hits and walking three.
Wayne got on the board in the secon as John Wooten drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on Rose double and scored on Ham's ground out.
Massey continued to have a great tournament as he opened the third with a home run to center. Gourley doubled into the left field corner to make it 3-0.
That would turn out to be all Post 11 starter T.J. Hinson would need. He gave up a home run in the bottom of the inning to Shane Clawson but kept Post 29 at bay for the next five innings.
He twice started double plays on check-swing grounders to the mound. In the eighth, when he was running out of gas, he hit a batter and allowed a double off the left field fence by Daniel Coffey. But he got the next batter on a soft liner and ended the inning on a fly ball to the outfield.
Wayne got Hinson plenty of insurance runs in the seventh. Conner Narron reached on an infield hit and made it home when Messer threw away Nolan Lancaster's bunt. Lancaster got to third on the same play and scored on a passed ball.
Rose opened the eighth with his second home run of the season.
Wayne....AB..R..H..BI..........Caldwell..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..4..1..1..1..............Severt rf..4..0..1..0
Gourley ss..5..1..3..0............Clawson cf..5..1..1..1
Davis cf..3..0..1..1..................Chavis c..4..0..0..0
Edgerton lf ..2..0..0..0..........Craig 1b..2..0..1..0
Wooten 1b..4..1..1..0.............Coffey 3b..4..0..1..0
Rose dh-p..4..1..2..1..............Merrikan dh..4..0..1..0
Ham c..4..0..1..1.....................Hendrix 2b..3..0..1..0
Pilkington 3b..4..0..0..0........Shehan ss..3..0..0..0
Narron 2b..3..1..1..0..............Parham ph..1..0..0..0
Lancaster lf-cf 4..1..1..1.........Nelson lf..2..0..1..0
......................_______..........Hamby ph..1..0..0..0
.....................37..6..11..4..............................______
......................................................................33..1..7..1
Wayne....012...000...210 - 6..11..1
Caldwell..001...000...000 - 1..7..2
E-Pilkington, Messer, Shehan. DP Wayne 2, Caldwell 1.
LOB-Wayne 7, Caldwell 10.
2B-Rose, Gourley, Coffey. HR-Massey, Clawson. SB-Narron,
Davis. CS-Massey.
Wayne...IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Hinson (W)..8..7..1..1..3..2
Rose.............1..0..0..0..1..0
Caldwell
Messer (L)..7..8..5..4..3..4
Berry...........2..3..1..1..0..0
PB-Chavis. HBP-Craig (by Hinson).
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI.......Cherryville..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf-p..4..0..0..0...Blake ss..4..0..0..0
Gourley ss..4..0..0..1......Houser..4..1..2..0
Wooten 1b..4..0..0..0......Hoyle ..4..1..0..0
Rose dh..2..0..0..0...........Finger 3b..4..2..3..1
Davis p-cf..1..0..0..0........Watts rf..4..1..2..1
Pilkington 3b..3..0..1..0...Henderson p..4..1..3..3
Narron 2b..3..0..0..0........Haynes c..2..0..1..1
Lancaster cf 2..0..0..0......Benson cf..3..0..0..0
Wright ph..1..0..0..0.........McSwain 2b..4..0..0..0
Gurley pr..0..1..0..0................................_______
.....................______...............................34..6..10..6
......................30..1..2..1
Wayne.........000...000...001 - 1..2..2
Cherryville..000...003...30x - 6..10..1
E-Gourley, Pilkington, Gourley, Blake. Wayne 1, Cherryville1.
LOB-Wayne 3, Cherryville 6.
2B-Henderson, Finger. SB-Watts. CS-Henderson.
Wayne..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Davis (L)..6..7..3..1..0..5
Massey 1 2/3..4..3..2..1..2
Grice......1/3..0..0..0..0..0
Cherryville
Henderson (W)..9..2..1..0..0..12
WP-Davis. PB-Haynes. HBP-Rose (by Henderson).
Wayne County's first American Legion state title will not come in 2007.
After taking care of Caldwell County 6-1 in the first game Sunday afternoon at Garner High School, Wayne had high hopes of bringing home the big trophy. Post 11 ace Garrett Davis was on the mound, and the bats were working.
But it wasn't to be. Cherryville's Chris Henderson limited Wayne to two hits and struck out 12 as Post 100 beat Post 11 6-1 to claim another state title and head for the regional in Georgia.
In the who-would-have-believed-it department, both of Wayne's losses in the double elimination event came with Davis as the starting pitcher. In stark contrast to the run support the other starters received, Davis' teammates scored one run in his two games. He pitched 11 innings, allowing five runs, including three earned.
'Garrett didn't lose. We lost," said Wayne coach Brad Reaves."Give us a 5 or 7 game series and we beat anyone at the tourney. I'll take my second place team over any team there." Wayne finished its most successful season since 2004 with a 27-6 mark.
Henderson didn't display Davis' fastball but he did show a solid command of the strike zone and an ability to keep the Wayne batters off balance almost the entire game. "That's what he did," said Reaves. "He mixed it up and I think we were out of gas."
Henderson hit Jay Rose on a 3-2 pitch to open the second, and the Post 11 players sensed an opening.
But none developed. Wayne's next runner came in the fifth on a Thomas Pilkington single. He was quickly erased on a double play.
Davis came into the sixth having avoided giving up a run thanks to a pair of good defensive plays, and he looked ready to go deep into the game having thrown 64 pitches. But his good fortune soon left him.
With one out, Payden Houser singled up the middle. Steven Hoyle's grounder was misplayed to put runners on first and second. Houser advanced on a wild pitch, and Paul finger sent a breaking pitch through the left side for the first run. the runners advanced on a grounder.
Then Henderson helped his own cause by lining the first pitch to right centefield for another two runs. Davis fanned the next batter, but he had thrown 26 pitches that inning and was through.
Cherryville's hurlers are not under any constraints in the pitch count department, but Henderson was in good shape anyway. He would go the distance and throw 115 with only one inning of more than 16.
Jackson Massey took over in the seventh and retired the side in order, but he couldn't sustain it in the eighth. After the first two batters went down, Finger reached on a bloop double to right. Jake Watts scored him with a single to right. Watts stole second and came home on a hit by Henderson. Henderson went to second on an error and scored on Aaron Haynes' single to center. The last two hits came on 1-2 pitches. Sterling Price came in and got the final out.
Wayne clung to the hopes of a last-inning rally after pinch hitter Zack Wright reached on an error and Will Edgerton doubled to right. Henderson, however, was not to be denied. He fanned Massey on three breaking pitches. A run scored as Walker Gourley was safe on an error, and Henderson got the next batters to send the Post 100 team on the field to celebrate.
in the first game of the afternoon, Wayne got another chance at Jimmy Messer, this time with better results. The UNC-bound right-hander wasn't as sharp as in the tournament opener, allowing eight hits and walking three.
Wayne got on the board in the secon as John Wooten drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on Rose double and scored on Ham's ground out.
Massey continued to have a great tournament as he opened the third with a home run to center. Gourley doubled into the left field corner to make it 3-0.
That would turn out to be all Post 11 starter T.J. Hinson would need. He gave up a home run in the bottom of the inning to Shane Clawson but kept Post 29 at bay for the next five innings.
He twice started double plays on check-swing grounders to the mound. In the eighth, when he was running out of gas, he hit a batter and allowed a double off the left field fence by Daniel Coffey. But he got the next batter on a soft liner and ended the inning on a fly ball to the outfield.
Wayne got Hinson plenty of insurance runs in the seventh. Conner Narron reached on an infield hit and made it home when Messer threw away Nolan Lancaster's bunt. Lancaster got to third on the same play and scored on a passed ball.
Rose opened the eighth with his second home run of the season.
Wayne....AB..R..H..BI..........Caldwell..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..4..1..1..1..............Severt rf..4..0..1..0
Gourley ss..5..1..3..0............Clawson cf..5..1..1..1
Davis cf..3..0..1..1..................Chavis c..4..0..0..0
Edgerton lf ..2..0..0..0..........Craig 1b..2..0..1..0
Wooten 1b..4..1..1..0.............Coffey 3b..4..0..1..0
Rose dh-p..4..1..2..1..............Merrikan dh..4..0..1..0
Ham c..4..0..1..1.....................Hendrix 2b..3..0..1..0
Pilkington 3b..4..0..0..0........Shehan ss..3..0..0..0
Narron 2b..3..1..1..0..............Parham ph..1..0..0..0
Lancaster lf-cf 4..1..1..1.........Nelson lf..2..0..1..0
......................_______..........Hamby ph..1..0..0..0
.....................37..6..11..4..............................______
......................................................................33..1..7..1
Wayne....012...000...210 - 6..11..1
Caldwell..001...000...000 - 1..7..2
E-Pilkington, Messer, Shehan. DP Wayne 2, Caldwell 1.
LOB-Wayne 7, Caldwell 10.
2B-Rose, Gourley, Coffey. HR-Massey, Clawson. SB-Narron,
Davis. CS-Massey.
Wayne...IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Hinson (W)..8..7..1..1..3..2
Rose.............1..0..0..0..1..0
Caldwell
Messer (L)..7..8..5..4..3..4
Berry...........2..3..1..1..0..0
PB-Chavis. HBP-Craig (by Hinson).
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI.......Cherryville..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf-p..4..0..0..0...Blake ss..4..0..0..0
Gourley ss..4..0..0..1......Houser..4..1..2..0
Wooten 1b..4..0..0..0......Hoyle ..4..1..0..0
Rose dh..2..0..0..0...........Finger 3b..4..2..3..1
Davis p-cf..1..0..0..0........Watts rf..4..1..2..1
Pilkington 3b..3..0..1..0...Henderson p..4..1..3..3
Narron 2b..3..0..0..0........Haynes c..2..0..1..1
Lancaster cf 2..0..0..0......Benson cf..3..0..0..0
Wright ph..1..0..0..0.........McSwain 2b..4..0..0..0
Gurley pr..0..1..0..0................................_______
.....................______...............................34..6..10..6
......................30..1..2..1
Wayne.........000...000...001 - 1..2..2
Cherryville..000...003...30x - 6..10..1
E-Gourley, Pilkington, Gourley, Blake. Wayne 1, Cherryville1.
LOB-Wayne 3, Cherryville 6.
2B-Henderson, Finger. SB-Watts. CS-Henderson.
Wayne..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Davis (L)..6..7..3..1..0..5
Massey 1 2/3..4..3..2..1..2
Grice......1/3..0..0..0..0..0
Cherryville
Henderson (W)..9..2..1..0..0..12
WP-Davis. PB-Haynes. HBP-Rose (by Henderson).
Wayne Rolls Into Sunday
Another big game, and another big-time performance from Brandon Price.
The Wayne County Post 11 righthander fought his way through eight strong innings against a powerful offense while his teammates continued to punish opposition pitchers as Wayne defeated Cherryville Post 100 10-5 Saturday night in the American Legion state tournament in Garner.
Three teams are left in the quest for the title. Wayne will square off with Caldwell County Post 29 Sunday afternoon at one. The winner will face Cherryville for the championship around 4:30.
Since being held to a season-low three hits in the first game, Wayne has been a tear offensively, scoring 38 runs in its three wins. The pitchers have been equally effective, allowing four earned runs and walking three.
Price has been a model of consistency when it has counted the most. He's allowed two earned runs in his last 20 innings. And just when it seemed he was out of gas, he went into his reserve tank to get out of one more jam.
He took what seemed to be a comfortable 8-3 lead into the eighth and was on the verge of ending his night after retiring the first two batters. At that point, he had thrown 106 pitches, close to what Post 11 coach Brad Reaves gives his pitchers.
But Cherryville's potent lineup was not to be gotten out this easy. Cleanup hitter Paul Finger drilled a 2-0 fastball to left for a double. Jake Watts doubled him home and scored on Chris Henderson's single through the left side.
Then things got even dicier as Shane Richard's grounder was misplayed for an error to bring the tying run to the plate.
Reaves went to the mound, had a talk with Price and left him in. Price, an excellent fielder, rewarded his coach by snagging Nate Wright's ground ball up the middle for the last out.
Then came what may have been the emotionally back-breaking ninth. Pinch hitter Thomas Pilkington singled to open the inning. One out later, Tyler Ham caught a fastball and lined over the right field fence for his first home run of the season.
Jay Rose, who has appeared on the mound in all the tournament games, pitched a perfect ninth.
Cherryville struck first for two unearned runs in the second. Watts reached when his fly ball to left was dropped. Henderson singled him to third, and Richard walked. Watts scored on a wild pitch and Nate Wright hit a sacrifice fly.
Philip Russ, a soft-throwing lefty, got the starting nod for Cherryville as Post 100 saved Henderson for Sunday. Wayne left runners in scoring position in the first two innings before breaking through in the third.
Conner Narron was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Noah Lancaster was safe on an infield hit to short, and Jackson Massey continued to be clutch with an RBI single up the middle to put runners on the corners. He took second on the throw.
But Wayne ran itself out of the inning. Walker Gourley hit a grounder to short, and Massey broke for third. He was out in a rundown. Gourley tried for second but failed to beat the throw. A strikeout ended the inning.
Cherryville went down in order in the third, and Wayne took the lead for good in the fourth, sending Russ from the game.
John Wooten doubled over the head of the centerfielder. Rose, the opposite-field specialist, doubled over the leftfielder for a run. Ham hit a screamer to the second baseman. He couldn't handle it, and Rose came home.
Cherryville rebounded in the fourth and seemed on the verge of tying it, but a base running blunder negated that. Finger had a lead off single. Watts hit smashed a 3-1 fastball to center, and Garrett Davis ran into a fence post, temporarily stunning him. He recovered and fired the ball to third. Watts beat the throw but tried to hold the bag without sliding. He was tagged out. The next batter hit what would have been a sacrifice fly to right.
Cherryville again threatened in the fifth, but Price rose to the occasion. Tripp McSwan singled and Trey Blake doubled with one out. Price went to a full count on Payden Houser, then struck him out on a breaking pitch. He got the next batter on a grounder.
Wayne added a run in the seventh against reliever Cory Parks. Gourley was hit by a pitch, went to second after Davis' grounder was misplayed, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
The eighth saw Wayne go wild on the bases. Narron reached on a two-out fielder's choice and stole second and third. Lancaster singled him home and stole second.
Massey walked, and then Wayne's speed came into play as Lancaster raced home on Gourley's roller up the first base line. Davis singled through the right side to give Post 11 a five-run lead. Davis stole second, but the runners were stranded there.
Wayne AB..R..h..BI...............Cherryville AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..4..1..1..1................Blake ss..5..0..1..0
Gourley ss..4..1..2..2..............Houser cf..5..0..0..0
Davis cf.5..0..1..1....................Hoyle 1b..4..0..0..0
Wooten 3b..5..1..1..0..............Finger 3b..4..2..2..0
ZWright dh..4..0..0..0.............Watts rf..4..2..2..2
Pilkington dh..1..1..1..0..........Henderson c..4..1..2..1
Rose 1b-p..5.1..2..1.................Richard lf..2..0..0..0
Ham c..5..1..2..2.......................NWright..3..0..0..1
Narron 2b..3..2..0..0...............McSwain 2b..4..0..1..0
Lancaster lf..5..2..2..1.................................______
......................______..................................35..5..6..4
.......................41..10..12..8
Wayne.........002...200...132 - 10..12..2
Cherryville..020...100...020 - 5..6..4
E-Blake, Lancaster, Finger, McSwain 2, Wooten. LOB-Wayne 9,
Cherryville 6.
2B-Wooten, Rose, Ham, Blake, Finger, Watts. 3B-Watts. HR-Ham
SB-Massey, Lancaster 2, Davis 3, Gourley, Narron 2. SF-Wright.
Wayne..........IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Price (W)......8..8..5..2..2..6
Rose..............1..0..0..0..0..1
Cherryville
Russ (L)......3 1/3..4..4..3..1..2
Parks...........3 2/3..2..1..0..0..5
Haynes..........2..6..5..5..1..2
WP-Price, Parks. HBP-Narron (by Russ), Gourley (by Parks),
Narron (by Haynes.)
e shtunë, 11 gusht 2007
Listen to the Game Here
http://www.hrnb.com/wlon_index.html
Please tell as many people as possible. Try it out and let me know if there is a problem with the link.
Please tell as many people as possible. Try it out and let me know if there is a problem with the link.
30 Game Totals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVoudr9p5BVsWA
Cherryville is in the final Sunday by virtue of being the last unbeaten team.
Scenario One: Cherryville wins. The Durham/Caldwell winner plays Cherryville Sunday at one. A second game, if needed, follows.
Scenario Two: Cherryville loses. The two Saturday winners play at one for the right to play for the title at four.
All clear?
Cherryville is in the final Sunday by virtue of being the last unbeaten team.
Scenario One: Cherryville wins. The Durham/Caldwell winner plays Cherryville Sunday at one. A second game, if needed, follows.
Scenario Two: Cherryville loses. The two Saturday winners play at one for the right to play for the title at four.
All clear?
e premte, 10 gusht 2007
Wayne Stuns Rowan County
More to come.
It was the baseball equivalent of shock and awe.
Wayne County Post 11 batted around in two straight innings and handed Area III powerhouse Rowan County its worst loss of the season 19-1 Friday afternoon at the American Legion state tournament in Garner.
Wayne (25-5) will play Saturday evening at nine against Cherryville because the tournament setup was changed this year.
Five players had multiple-hit games as Post 11 tagged five pitchers for 17 hits. Grant Sasser, who lasted less than two innings and and allowed seven runs in the Wednesday loss to Caldwell County, showed why he's headed to NC State this fall. "Sasser was the Sasser of old," said Wayne coach Brad Reaves. "He knew the importance of his job and like all good players he stepped up."
The lefty allowed one hit in six innings, a dribbler down the third base line, and didn't issue a walk as he picked up his third win.
Jackson Massey set the tone for the offensive landslide when he walked to start the game. One pitch later, Walker Gourley sent a fastball over the centerfield fence. Rowanstarter Weston Church walked Garrett Davis, but got the next two batters.
Next up was Zack Wright and his .180 batting average. But the light-hitting catcher was to be a pleasant surprise this afternoon. He pulled an 0-2 curve into the left field corner for a run and the first of four hits.
Sasser was on top of his game from the first, retiring the first nine batters. And it was in the third that the Rowan team and its vocal contingent got the idea that it was not going to be their afternoon.
Weston hit Gourley, and he stole second. Davis reached on an infield hit, and Gourley scored on an error on John Wooten's grounder. After Wooten was picked off first, Jay Rose was safe on an error. Wright drove another breaking pitch down the third base line for an RBI double.
The runners held on a ground out, but Conner Narron singled to right to make it 7-0. He went to seond on an error on the throw home, stole third and scored on a poor throw. Alex Casey walked, and Massey homered to right to put Wayne ahead 10-0.
Plenty more was to come in the fourth.
Davis singled, Wooten doubled to center and Rose walked to load the bases. Again, Wright was clutch as he doubled home two runs. Thomas Pilkington sngled to left to make the score 14-0.
Narron walked, and with one out Massey pulled a breaking pitch down the first base line for two runs. Gourley singled off the right field fence to finish the scoring.
Wright, who ended with four hits and five RBI, had a run-scoring single in the two-run ninth.
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI........Rowan..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..5..3..2..4.........Roland 3..1..0..0
Gourley ss..4..2..2..3........Ridenhour cf..3..0..1..0
Davis cf..4..3..3..0.............Church p-2b..2..0..0..1
Lancaster cf..1..0..0..0.....Holmes 1b..1..0..0..0
Rose dh-p..4..2..1..0.........Britt ph..1..0..0..0
Wright c..5..3..4..5............Jarrett 2b-p..2..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..5..1..1..2.....Hillard p..0..0..0..0
Narron 2b..2..2..1..2..........Brown p..0..0..0..0
Gurley 2b..2..0..0..0..........Shive ph..1.0..0..0
Casey lf..1..1..0..0..............Dobbins c..3..0..1..0
Edgerton lf..3..0..1..1.........Mock 3b..3..0..0..0
....................._______.......Kesler lf..2..0..0..0
...................41..19..17..17....Cranford rf..1..0..0..0
.............................................Young rf..0..0..0..0
...............................................................________
................................................................22..1..2..1
Wayne.....307...700...2 - 19..17..1
Rowan.....000...100...0 - 1....2...4
E-Jarrett 2, Dobbins 2, Gourley. LOB-Wayne 5, Rowan 3.
2B-Wright 3, Wooten 2. 3B-Massey. HR-Gourley, Massey.
SB-Gourley, Narron. SF-Church.
Wayne..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Sasser (W) 6..1..0..0..0..7
Rose............1..1..0..0..0..2
Rowan
Church (L)..2 2/3..5..8..5..2..2
Jarrett.........1 2/3..1..2..2..1..1
Hillard............0..4..5..5..1..0
Brown.............1/3..3..2..2..1..1
Shive............3 2/3..4..2..2..0..5
Holmes (by Sasser), Cranford (by Sasser).
It was the baseball equivalent of shock and awe.
Wayne County Post 11 batted around in two straight innings and handed Area III powerhouse Rowan County its worst loss of the season 19-1 Friday afternoon at the American Legion state tournament in Garner.
Wayne (25-5) will play Saturday evening at nine against Cherryville because the tournament setup was changed this year.
Five players had multiple-hit games as Post 11 tagged five pitchers for 17 hits. Grant Sasser, who lasted less than two innings and and allowed seven runs in the Wednesday loss to Caldwell County, showed why he's headed to NC State this fall. "Sasser was the Sasser of old," said Wayne coach Brad Reaves. "He knew the importance of his job and like all good players he stepped up."
The lefty allowed one hit in six innings, a dribbler down the third base line, and didn't issue a walk as he picked up his third win.
Jackson Massey set the tone for the offensive landslide when he walked to start the game. One pitch later, Walker Gourley sent a fastball over the centerfield fence. Rowanstarter Weston Church walked Garrett Davis, but got the next two batters.
Next up was Zack Wright and his .180 batting average. But the light-hitting catcher was to be a pleasant surprise this afternoon. He pulled an 0-2 curve into the left field corner for a run and the first of four hits.
Sasser was on top of his game from the first, retiring the first nine batters. And it was in the third that the Rowan team and its vocal contingent got the idea that it was not going to be their afternoon.
Weston hit Gourley, and he stole second. Davis reached on an infield hit, and Gourley scored on an error on John Wooten's grounder. After Wooten was picked off first, Jay Rose was safe on an error. Wright drove another breaking pitch down the third base line for an RBI double.
The runners held on a ground out, but Conner Narron singled to right to make it 7-0. He went to seond on an error on the throw home, stole third and scored on a poor throw. Alex Casey walked, and Massey homered to right to put Wayne ahead 10-0.
Plenty more was to come in the fourth.
Davis singled, Wooten doubled to center and Rose walked to load the bases. Again, Wright was clutch as he doubled home two runs. Thomas Pilkington sngled to left to make the score 14-0.
Narron walked, and with one out Massey pulled a breaking pitch down the first base line for two runs. Gourley singled off the right field fence to finish the scoring.
Wright, who ended with four hits and five RBI, had a run-scoring single in the two-run ninth.
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI........Rowan..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..5..3..2..4.........Roland 3..1..0..0
Gourley ss..4..2..2..3........Ridenhour cf..3..0..1..0
Davis cf..4..3..3..0.............Church p-2b..2..0..0..1
Lancaster cf..1..0..0..0.....Holmes 1b..1..0..0..0
Rose dh-p..4..2..1..0.........Britt ph..1..0..0..0
Wright c..5..3..4..5............Jarrett 2b-p..2..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..5..1..1..2.....Hillard p..0..0..0..0
Narron 2b..2..2..1..2..........Brown p..0..0..0..0
Gurley 2b..2..0..0..0..........Shive ph..1.0..0..0
Casey lf..1..1..0..0..............Dobbins c..3..0..1..0
Edgerton lf..3..0..1..1.........Mock 3b..3..0..0..0
....................._______.......Kesler lf..2..0..0..0
...................41..19..17..17....Cranford rf..1..0..0..0
.............................................Young rf..0..0..0..0
...............................................................________
................................................................22..1..2..1
Wayne.....307...700...2 - 19..17..1
Rowan.....000...100...0 - 1....2...4
E-Jarrett 2, Dobbins 2, Gourley. LOB-Wayne 5, Rowan 3.
2B-Wright 3, Wooten 2. 3B-Massey. HR-Gourley, Massey.
SB-Gourley, Narron. SF-Church.
Wayne..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Sasser (W) 6..1..0..0..0..7
Rose............1..1..0..0..0..2
Rowan
Church (L)..2 2/3..5..8..5..2..2
Jarrett.........1 2/3..1..2..2..1..1
Hillard............0..4..5..5..1..0
Brown.............1/3..3..2..2..1..1
Shive............3 2/3..4..2..2..0..5
Holmes (by Sasser), Cranford (by Sasser).
On-base Percentages
H+BB+HBP/PA-sacrifice bunts -catcher's interference
Jackson Massey 73/135 =.541
Walker Gourley 57/135 = .422
Garrett Davis 39/87 = .448
John Wooten 51/118 =.432
Jay Rose 34/95 =.358
Tyler Ham 30/66 =.455
Zack Wright 15/55 =.273
Thomas Pilkington 37/89 =.416
Conner Narron 20/57 =.351
Nolan Lancaster 37/89 =.416
Pitchers' OBP
Garrett Davis 32/126 =.254
Grant Sasser 42/129 =.326
TJ Hinson 60/201 =.299
Brandon Price 42/151 =.278
Jackson Massey 73/135 =.541
Walker Gourley 57/135 = .422
Garrett Davis 39/87 = .448
John Wooten 51/118 =.432
Jay Rose 34/95 =.358
Tyler Ham 30/66 =.455
Zack Wright 15/55 =.273
Thomas Pilkington 37/89 =.416
Conner Narron 20/57 =.351
Nolan Lancaster 37/89 =.416
Pitchers' OBP
Garrett Davis 32/126 =.254
Grant Sasser 42/129 =.326
TJ Hinson 60/201 =.299
Brandon Price 42/151 =.278
e enjte, 9 gusht 2007
Massey, Hinson Help Wayne Stay Alive
The near record breaking heat at Garner High School Wednesday afternoon did little to deter Wayne County Post 11 outfielder Jackson Massey.
The veteran leadoff man homered to start Wayne's day at the plate, then speared a line drive to start a double play in a crucial part of the game to lead Post 11 to a 9-4 win over Randolph County in an elimination game at the American Legion state tournament. Wayne (24-5) will play Thursday for the third straight day at 12:30, this time against Rowan County, an 8-7 loser to Cherryville. Wayne and Rowan last met in the 2002 state tournament in Salisbury. Rowan defeated Wayne twice to win the title.
A day after suffering through a season-low three hits, the Post 11 offense came to life both at the plate and the bases, stealing five times in one inning and drawing two throwing errors by the catcher in the process.
Massey had two hits, a walk and a stolen base, but he has to share the stage with the player Wayne coach Brad Reaves calls the "bulldog" of the team: T.J. Hinson. The big righthander was a workhorse on the mound, going 6 2/3 innings in the oppressive conditions and outlasting his counterpart from Randolph to pick up his eight win of the season. Randolph used five pitchers in an effort to extend its season.
The score was tied at two in the fifth when Massey took an 0-2 fastball to left centerfield foe a one-out double. Walker Gourley drove a 1-2 breaking pitch down the third base line for his second two-bagger of the game. Garrett Davis was walked intentionally, but Jay rose followed a fly out with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield for a two-run lead.
Hinson retired the order in the sixth, and the offense went to work again. Alex Casey was hit by a 1-2 fastball with one out. Massey walked after Casey stole second. Then came the first double steal and the throw in the dirt to left for a run. Massey continued to third and scored when Gourley's bouncer went through the third baseman for an error. The thievery went unabated as Gourley swiped second and third and scored on another throwing error.
Wayne had a 7-2 lead, but at this level a five-run lead is not safe. Hinson got the leadoff batter in the seventh, but Justin Yow reached on an error. Scott Hayes singled to left. Then came what could have been a major play.
Bryson Windson hit a possible double play ball to Gourley at short, but the ball took a wicked hop over his head for an RBI single. Ben Bunting singled up the middle on a 1-2 pitch to make it 7-4, and Reaves had seen enough. On came Brandon Price. Ethan Marsh hit a sinking liner to right, and it appeared Massey would have trouble with it. Instead, he came up with the play and doubled Bunting off first to kill the comeback.
To make matters worse for Randolph, its defense again faltered in the home half as Wayne got those runs back. Thomas Pilkington reached on an error and scored on Casey's single down the first base line. The first baseman threw wide of the mark at second on Massey's grounder in an attempted force play, and Gourley singled to load the bases. Wayne caught a break when Davis hit a check swing grounder to third to score Casey.
Price allowed one runner in the eighth, and Rose pitched the ninth, striking out two.
Gourley followed Massey's home run with a double and came home on a Davis single to right.
Randolph..AB..R..H..BI......Wayne..AB..R..H..BI
Bunting cf..3..0..1..1............Massey cf..4..3..2..1
Marsh rf..4..0..0..0..............Gourley ss..5..3..3..1
Pritchard ss..2..0..0..0........GDavis cf..3..0..1..2
Young c-ss..2..0..0..0..........Wooten 1b..4..0..1..0
SDavis dh..4..1..1..0.............Rose dh-p..4..0..1..1
Ridge 1b..4..0..1..0...............Ham c..3..0..0..0
Hohn c..4..0..1..0..................Wright c..1..0..0..0
Yow lf..3..2..1..0....................Pilkington 3b..4..1..0..0
Oxendine lf..1..0..0..0...........Narron 2b..4..0..0..0
Hayes 3b ..4..1..2..1...............Casey lf..3..2..1..1
Windson 2b ..4..0..1..1..........................______
.......................______...........................35..9..9..6
.........................35..4..9..3
Randolph..001..100..200 - 4..9..5
Wayne......200..023..20x - 9..9..1
E-Ridge 2, Hohn 2, Pilkington, Windson. DP-randolph 1, Wayne 2.
LOB-randolph 5, Wayne 10.
2B-Gourley 2, Yow, Ridge 2, Massey. HR-Massey. SB-Hayes, Davis, Rose,
Casey 2, Massey, Gourley 2.
Randolph..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
McSwain (L) 4 2/3..6..4..4..4..1
Isaacs 2/3..0..2..2..1..0
Davis 2/3..1..1..0..1..1
Moore 1/3..1..2..1..0..0
Wayne
Hinson (W)..6 1/3..8..3..2..1..4
Price.............1 2/3..1..0..0..0..1
Rose..............1..0..0..0..0..2
HBP-Casey (byIsaacas).
The veteran leadoff man homered to start Wayne's day at the plate, then speared a line drive to start a double play in a crucial part of the game to lead Post 11 to a 9-4 win over Randolph County in an elimination game at the American Legion state tournament. Wayne (24-5) will play Thursday for the third straight day at 12:30, this time against Rowan County, an 8-7 loser to Cherryville. Wayne and Rowan last met in the 2002 state tournament in Salisbury. Rowan defeated Wayne twice to win the title.
A day after suffering through a season-low three hits, the Post 11 offense came to life both at the plate and the bases, stealing five times in one inning and drawing two throwing errors by the catcher in the process.
Massey had two hits, a walk and a stolen base, but he has to share the stage with the player Wayne coach Brad Reaves calls the "bulldog" of the team: T.J. Hinson. The big righthander was a workhorse on the mound, going 6 2/3 innings in the oppressive conditions and outlasting his counterpart from Randolph to pick up his eight win of the season. Randolph used five pitchers in an effort to extend its season.
The score was tied at two in the fifth when Massey took an 0-2 fastball to left centerfield foe a one-out double. Walker Gourley drove a 1-2 breaking pitch down the third base line for his second two-bagger of the game. Garrett Davis was walked intentionally, but Jay rose followed a fly out with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield for a two-run lead.
Hinson retired the order in the sixth, and the offense went to work again. Alex Casey was hit by a 1-2 fastball with one out. Massey walked after Casey stole second. Then came the first double steal and the throw in the dirt to left for a run. Massey continued to third and scored when Gourley's bouncer went through the third baseman for an error. The thievery went unabated as Gourley swiped second and third and scored on another throwing error.
Wayne had a 7-2 lead, but at this level a five-run lead is not safe. Hinson got the leadoff batter in the seventh, but Justin Yow reached on an error. Scott Hayes singled to left. Then came what could have been a major play.
Bryson Windson hit a possible double play ball to Gourley at short, but the ball took a wicked hop over his head for an RBI single. Ben Bunting singled up the middle on a 1-2 pitch to make it 7-4, and Reaves had seen enough. On came Brandon Price. Ethan Marsh hit a sinking liner to right, and it appeared Massey would have trouble with it. Instead, he came up with the play and doubled Bunting off first to kill the comeback.
To make matters worse for Randolph, its defense again faltered in the home half as Wayne got those runs back. Thomas Pilkington reached on an error and scored on Casey's single down the first base line. The first baseman threw wide of the mark at second on Massey's grounder in an attempted force play, and Gourley singled to load the bases. Wayne caught a break when Davis hit a check swing grounder to third to score Casey.
Price allowed one runner in the eighth, and Rose pitched the ninth, striking out two.
Gourley followed Massey's home run with a double and came home on a Davis single to right.
Randolph..AB..R..H..BI......Wayne..AB..R..H..BI
Bunting cf..3..0..1..1............Massey cf..4..3..2..1
Marsh rf..4..0..0..0..............Gourley ss..5..3..3..1
Pritchard ss..2..0..0..0........GDavis cf..3..0..1..2
Young c-ss..2..0..0..0..........Wooten 1b..4..0..1..0
SDavis dh..4..1..1..0.............Rose dh-p..4..0..1..1
Ridge 1b..4..0..1..0...............Ham c..3..0..0..0
Hohn c..4..0..1..0..................Wright c..1..0..0..0
Yow lf..3..2..1..0....................Pilkington 3b..4..1..0..0
Oxendine lf..1..0..0..0...........Narron 2b..4..0..0..0
Hayes 3b ..4..1..2..1...............Casey lf..3..2..1..1
Windson 2b ..4..0..1..1..........................______
.......................______...........................35..9..9..6
.........................35..4..9..3
Randolph..001..100..200 - 4..9..5
Wayne......200..023..20x - 9..9..1
E-Ridge 2, Hohn 2, Pilkington, Windson. DP-randolph 1, Wayne 2.
LOB-randolph 5, Wayne 10.
2B-Gourley 2, Yow, Ridge 2, Massey. HR-Massey. SB-Hayes, Davis, Rose,
Casey 2, Massey, Gourley 2.
Randolph..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
McSwain (L) 4 2/3..6..4..4..4..1
Isaacs 2/3..0..2..2..1..0
Davis 2/3..1..1..0..1..1
Moore 1/3..1..2..1..0..0
Wayne
Hinson (W)..6 1/3..8..3..2..1..4
Price.............1 2/3..1..0..0..0..1
Rose..............1..0..0..0..0..2
HBP-Casey (byIsaacas).
e mërkurë, 8 gusht 2007
Wayne Falters in Opener
Wayne County Post 11 pitcher Grant Sasser apologized to coach Brad Reaves for his poor performance in Wayne County's opening-round game against Caldwell County Post 29 at the American Legion state tournament at Garner High School Wednesday afternoon. But as Reaves said, it doesn't matter how many runs you give up if you can't put any on the board.
Caldwell broke open a close game with seven runs in the seventh and rolled to an 11-0 win to advance to a Thursday night meeting with Garner, a 6-3 winner over Randolph County. Wayne (23-5), which lost for the first time in the postseason, will face Randolph in the afternoon at 12:30 and again have to contend with the blistering heat. The loser is out of the eight-team double elimination event.
The shutout was the first for Wayne in 55 games. It was also the first time the team had lost by the ten-run rule to anyone outside Area I East since the rule was implemented in 1997. Wayne's three hits were the lowest of the season.
The game featured a match up of two UNC-bound pitchers in Wayne's Garrett Davis and Caldwell's Jimmy Messer. Davis left the game after five innings trailing 2-0 after having thrown 98 pitches. Messer was at 108 after six and likely was also not long for leaving.
But the decision for Caldwell coach Gary Hamby was made a lot easier in the seventh after Sasser, who is headed for N.C. State, took to the mound.
Sasser gave up a leadoff single to Jordan Nelson, but retired the next batter on a grounder. then his failure to close out came back to get him.
He got ahead of Shane Clawson 1-2 but walked him. Brad Chavis fell behind fell behind 1-2, fouled off two pitches, took a breaking pitch and then parked a fastball well into the trees in left.
Brad Craig singled to left on an 0-1 pitch,and Daniel Coffey doubled off an 0-2 curve to put runners on second and third. Zack Merrikein drove them in with a single down the third base line. Gordy Hendrix reached on an infield hit to finish Sasser, and Nelson ended the scoring with a double to left after being behind 0-2.
Caldwell added two more in the eighth on a two-run double by Coffey.
Wayne didn't lack for runners against Messer. In the first, Jackson Massey singled up the middle and stole second. Jay Rose was hit by a pitch with two out, but Messer got the next batter on a ground out.
In the third, a walk, an error and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with two out, but Messer again avoided the big inning with another ground out.
Wayne's biggest threat came in the fourth. Tyler4 Ham drew a lead off walk, and Conner Narron singled through the right side of the infield with one out. Massey followed a strikeout with a walk, but Messer got out of it with an inning-ending ground out.
Caldwell loaded the bases in the third against Davis on a single and two walks but he struck out Nelson to end the inning.
But he couldn't get out of the third unscathed. Josh Severt singled up the middle on the first pitch and scored when Clawson drove an 0-2 breaking pitch to center. He scored from third on a wild pitch.
Caldwell..AB..R..H..BI........Wayne..AB..R..H..BI
Severt rf..5..1..2..0..............Massey rf-cf..3..0..1..0
Clawson cf..3..3..1..1............Gourley ss..4..0..1..0
Chavis c..5..1..1..2................Wooten 1b..4..0..0..0
Craig 1b..2..2..2..0................Rose dh-p..2..0..0..0
Coffey 3b..5..1..2..2..............Pilkington 3b..4..0..0..0
Merrikan dh..4..1..3..2.........Ham c..2..0..0..0
Hendrix 2b..5..1..1..0...........Wright c..1..0..0..0
Shehan ss..4..0..0..0.............Lancaster cf..1..0..0..0
Nelson lf..4..1..2..2.................Davis cf..1...0..0..0
..................._______............Casey lf..0..0..0..0
....................37..1..14..9..........Narron 2b..3..0..1..0
.................................................Edgerton lf-rf..3..0..0..0
.................................................................______
...................................................................28..0..3..0
Caldwell 200..000..70 - 11..14..2
Wayne....000..000..00 - 0..3..1
E-Coffey, Craig, Narron. DP-Caldwell 1. LOB-Caldwell 9,
Wayne 9.
2B-Clawson, Coffey 2, Nelson. HR-Chavis. SB-Massey, Hendrix,
Clawson.
Caldwell....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Messer (W)......6..3..0..0..3..7
...................1..0..0..0..0..0
...................1..0..0..0..1..0
Wayne
Davis (L)..........5..4..2..2..3..7
Sasser.........1 1/3..6..7..7..1..0
Bullard.............1..4..2..2..2..0
Rose...............2/3..0..0..0..0..1
WP-WP-Davis, Messer, Sasser. PB-Wright. Bk-Sasser.
HBP-JRose (by Messer.)
Caldwell broke open a close game with seven runs in the seventh and rolled to an 11-0 win to advance to a Thursday night meeting with Garner, a 6-3 winner over Randolph County. Wayne (23-5), which lost for the first time in the postseason, will face Randolph in the afternoon at 12:30 and again have to contend with the blistering heat. The loser is out of the eight-team double elimination event.
The shutout was the first for Wayne in 55 games. It was also the first time the team had lost by the ten-run rule to anyone outside Area I East since the rule was implemented in 1997. Wayne's three hits were the lowest of the season.
The game featured a match up of two UNC-bound pitchers in Wayne's Garrett Davis and Caldwell's Jimmy Messer. Davis left the game after five innings trailing 2-0 after having thrown 98 pitches. Messer was at 108 after six and likely was also not long for leaving.
But the decision for Caldwell coach Gary Hamby was made a lot easier in the seventh after Sasser, who is headed for N.C. State, took to the mound.
Sasser gave up a leadoff single to Jordan Nelson, but retired the next batter on a grounder. then his failure to close out came back to get him.
He got ahead of Shane Clawson 1-2 but walked him. Brad Chavis fell behind fell behind 1-2, fouled off two pitches, took a breaking pitch and then parked a fastball well into the trees in left.
Brad Craig singled to left on an 0-1 pitch,and Daniel Coffey doubled off an 0-2 curve to put runners on second and third. Zack Merrikein drove them in with a single down the third base line. Gordy Hendrix reached on an infield hit to finish Sasser, and Nelson ended the scoring with a double to left after being behind 0-2.
Caldwell added two more in the eighth on a two-run double by Coffey.
Wayne didn't lack for runners against Messer. In the first, Jackson Massey singled up the middle and stole second. Jay Rose was hit by a pitch with two out, but Messer got the next batter on a ground out.
In the third, a walk, an error and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with two out, but Messer again avoided the big inning with another ground out.
Wayne's biggest threat came in the fourth. Tyler4 Ham drew a lead off walk, and Conner Narron singled through the right side of the infield with one out. Massey followed a strikeout with a walk, but Messer got out of it with an inning-ending ground out.
Caldwell loaded the bases in the third against Davis on a single and two walks but he struck out Nelson to end the inning.
But he couldn't get out of the third unscathed. Josh Severt singled up the middle on the first pitch and scored when Clawson drove an 0-2 breaking pitch to center. He scored from third on a wild pitch.
Caldwell..AB..R..H..BI........Wayne..AB..R..H..BI
Severt rf..5..1..2..0..............Massey rf-cf..3..0..1..0
Clawson cf..3..3..1..1............Gourley ss..4..0..1..0
Chavis c..5..1..1..2................Wooten 1b..4..0..0..0
Craig 1b..2..2..2..0................Rose dh-p..2..0..0..0
Coffey 3b..5..1..2..2..............Pilkington 3b..4..0..0..0
Merrikan dh..4..1..3..2.........Ham c..2..0..0..0
Hendrix 2b..5..1..1..0...........Wright c..1..0..0..0
Shehan ss..4..0..0..0.............Lancaster cf..1..0..0..0
Nelson lf..4..1..2..2.................Davis cf..1...0..0..0
..................._______............Casey lf..0..0..0..0
....................37..1..14..9..........Narron 2b..3..0..1..0
.................................................Edgerton lf-rf..3..0..0..0
.................................................................______
...................................................................28..0..3..0
Caldwell 200..000..70 - 11..14..2
Wayne....000..000..00 - 0..3..1
E-Coffey, Craig, Narron. DP-Caldwell 1. LOB-Caldwell 9,
Wayne 9.
2B-Clawson, Coffey 2, Nelson. HR-Chavis. SB-Massey, Hendrix,
Clawson.
Caldwell....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Messer (W)......6..3..0..0..3..7
...................1..0..0..0..0..0
...................1..0..0..0..1..0
Wayne
Davis (L)..........5..4..2..2..3..7
Sasser.........1 1/3..6..7..7..1..0
Bullard.............1..4..2..2..2..0
Rose...............2/3..0..0..0..0..1
WP-WP-Davis, Messer, Sasser. PB-Wright. Bk-Sasser.
HBP-JRose (by Messer.)
e diel, 5 gusht 2007
Comparative Statistics 1990-Present
The following numbers show how the 2007 team compares with teams from 1990-present in certain categories. The last number is the ranking.
It's important to consider the context of these numbers. In 2001, Wayne County moved from Southern Wayne High School to Mount Olive College. Legion teams don't play enough games for us to draw solid conclusions regarding park effects - what influence the field has on scoring - but common sense says that the change in venue hurt the offense and helped the defense. Therefore take that into consideration when making the comparisons.
Only one team that played at MOC- the 2002 squad that was second in the state - is in the top ten in runs per game. The three teams that have the most strikeouts per nine innings have the most wins.
BA - 311- 9
OBP - 419 - 6
SLG - 443 - 10
ISO - 129 - T9 Isolated power counts only bases beyond first on a hit. SLG minus BA.
Pct. of runners scored - 43 - 13
Runs/G - 7.8 - 14
Defense:
ERA - 3.17 - 4
BB/9 IP - 3.8 - T6
SO/9 IP - 8.4 - 9
BA - 238 - 9
Pct. of runners scored - 29 - 1
R/G - 4.0 - 2
It's important to consider the context of these numbers. In 2001, Wayne County moved from Southern Wayne High School to Mount Olive College. Legion teams don't play enough games for us to draw solid conclusions regarding park effects - what influence the field has on scoring - but common sense says that the change in venue hurt the offense and helped the defense. Therefore take that into consideration when making the comparisons.
Only one team that played at MOC- the 2002 squad that was second in the state - is in the top ten in runs per game. The three teams that have the most strikeouts per nine innings have the most wins.
BA - 311- 9
OBP - 419 - 6
SLG - 443 - 10
ISO - 129 - T9 Isolated power counts only bases beyond first on a hit. SLG minus BA.
Pct. of runners scored - 43 - 13
Runs/G - 7.8 - 14
Defense:
ERA - 3.17 - 4
BB/9 IP - 3.8 - T6
SO/9 IP - 8.4 - 9
BA - 238 - 9
Pct. of runners scored - 29 - 1
R/G - 4.0 - 2
e shtunë, 4 gusht 2007
27 Game Totals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVpyWa8itW9MNA
Welcome to anyone from Caldwell County. Let me know if I can do anything for you.
I'm going to be posting a lot before the start of the tournament, so check in regularly for articles of interest relating to previous trips and program records.
Welcome to anyone from Caldwell County. Let me know if I can do anything for you.
I'm going to be posting a lot before the start of the tournament, so check in regularly for articles of interest relating to previous trips and program records.
e premte, 3 gusht 2007
Wayne Completes Historic Run
It was a little too close for comfort at the end, but Wayne County Post 11 is headed to the American Legion state tournament as the top team in Area I.
Brandon Price pitched seven brilliant innings, and Wayne survived a late grandslam to get past Durham Post 7 Friday night 7-6 at the Durham Athletic Park and cap an unprecedented ten-game run through the Area I playoffs. No Post 11 team has ever gone this far in the postseason without losing.
Wayne (23-4) will play Area IV runnerup Caldwell County, 28-11, Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 in the first round of the state tournament at Garner High School.
Wayne had scored in five different innings to build a comfortable 7-1 lead going into the ninth. Sterling Grice took over for Price in the eighth, retiring the side in order. He struck out the first batter in the ninth and appeared on his way to an easy finish.
But then things began to get interesting.
Nick Mangini doubled and scored on a hit by Tarron Robinson. Seth Moorman flied to left on a 2-0 fastball for the second out. Cameron Falcon also singled. Pinch hitter Tyler Robinson fell behind in the count 1-2 but fought back to walk and load the bases.
One pitch later, the tying run was at the plate, as Patrick Kerwin drilled a fastball to left. The ball hugged the line and stayed fair to get Durham within one.
And that was it for Grice. Grant Sasser got the call to shut down the rally.
Sasser fell behind Levi Diala 2-0, almost hitting him in the process. The count went to 3-1 before Sasser fired a called strike. Then he threw a fastball past Diala to end the comeback.
While Durham made it close at the end, most of the night belonged to the player who was the winning pitcher in Charles B. Aycock's 3-A state title-clinching game.
The Wayne offense staked Price to a lead in the first on John Wooten's two-run triple to center. Durham appreared to be on the way to getting one of those runs back when leadoff batter Lucas Martin doubled off the fence in center. But a relay from Garrett Davis to shortstop Walker Gourley cut down Martin at third. Jacob Ezzell followed with another double but was stranded at third.
A second-inning double by Cameron Falcon and an RBI single by Barrett Stover made it 2-1. And that would be the last damage Durham would do against Price. The next batter hit into an inning-ending double play, and Price would retire the side in the next three innings as well as 16 of the final 18 batters he faced.
He threw 89 pitches, 62 for strikes, and didn't walk anyone. In addition, he went to three balls on four of the 25 batters he faced.
While Price was keeping the opposition at bay, the Post 11 offense was slowly extending the lead. Jay Rose hit an opposite-field home run to left to begin the fourth. In the fifth, Noah Lancaster reached on a leadoff infield hit and continued to third on the throwing error. He scored on a grounder by Jackson Massey.
Wayne made it 6-1 in the sixth. Thomas Pilkington had a leadoff single, and Tyler Ham walked. The next two batters struck out, but Massey also walked to load the bases. Gourley drilled the next pitch up the middle for a two-run single.
Ham's RBI single in the seventh gave Wayne its biggest lead.
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI...........Durham..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf-cf..3..1..0..1........Martin cf..4..0..1..0
Gourley ss..5..0..2..2...........Ezzell 2b-p-rf..4..0..2..0
Davis cf..5..1..0..0................Mangini c..4..1..1..0
Casey rf..0..0..0..0...............Robinson 1b..4..1..1..1
Wooten 1b..4..1..2..2........... Moorman dh-3b..4..0..0..0
Rose dh..5..1..1..1.................Falcon 3b-2b..4..2..3..0
Pilkington 3b..4..1..1..0........Stover rf..3..0..1..1
Ham c..3..1..1..1....................Schlitz p-rf..0..0..0..0
Narron 2b..2..0..0..0............Robinson ph..0..1..0..0
Gurley 2b..1..0..0..0.............Kerwin ss..4..1..1..4
Lancaster lf..3..1..1..0...........Diala lf..4..0..0..0
Edgerton lf..1..0..0..0............................______
........................._____............................35..6..10..6
..........................36..7..8..7
Wayne...200...112...1.. - 7..8..0
Durham..010...000...005 - 6..10..4
E-Robinson, Kerwin, Falcon, Madden. DP-Wayne 1, Durham 1.
LOB-Wayne 8, Durham 3.
2B-Martin, Ezzell, Falcon, Mangini. 3B-Wooten. HR-Rose
SB-Massey, Gourley 2, Narron. CS-Pilkington.
Wayne....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Price (W)..7..6..1..1..0..3
Grice...... 1 2/3..4..5..5..1..2
Sasser(S)...1/3..0..0..0..0..1
Durham
Madden (L)5..4..4..3..2..4
Ezzell...........3..4..3..2..3..4
Schlitz..........1..0..0..0..0..1
WP-Ezzell. Bk-Ezzell. HBP- Narron (by Ezzell).
Brandon Price pitched seven brilliant innings, and Wayne survived a late grandslam to get past Durham Post 7 Friday night 7-6 at the Durham Athletic Park and cap an unprecedented ten-game run through the Area I playoffs. No Post 11 team has ever gone this far in the postseason without losing.
Wayne (23-4) will play Area IV runnerup Caldwell County, 28-11, Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 in the first round of the state tournament at Garner High School.
Wayne had scored in five different innings to build a comfortable 7-1 lead going into the ninth. Sterling Grice took over for Price in the eighth, retiring the side in order. He struck out the first batter in the ninth and appeared on his way to an easy finish.
But then things began to get interesting.
Nick Mangini doubled and scored on a hit by Tarron Robinson. Seth Moorman flied to left on a 2-0 fastball for the second out. Cameron Falcon also singled. Pinch hitter Tyler Robinson fell behind in the count 1-2 but fought back to walk and load the bases.
One pitch later, the tying run was at the plate, as Patrick Kerwin drilled a fastball to left. The ball hugged the line and stayed fair to get Durham within one.
And that was it for Grice. Grant Sasser got the call to shut down the rally.
Sasser fell behind Levi Diala 2-0, almost hitting him in the process. The count went to 3-1 before Sasser fired a called strike. Then he threw a fastball past Diala to end the comeback.
While Durham made it close at the end, most of the night belonged to the player who was the winning pitcher in Charles B. Aycock's 3-A state title-clinching game.
The Wayne offense staked Price to a lead in the first on John Wooten's two-run triple to center. Durham appreared to be on the way to getting one of those runs back when leadoff batter Lucas Martin doubled off the fence in center. But a relay from Garrett Davis to shortstop Walker Gourley cut down Martin at third. Jacob Ezzell followed with another double but was stranded at third.
A second-inning double by Cameron Falcon and an RBI single by Barrett Stover made it 2-1. And that would be the last damage Durham would do against Price. The next batter hit into an inning-ending double play, and Price would retire the side in the next three innings as well as 16 of the final 18 batters he faced.
He threw 89 pitches, 62 for strikes, and didn't walk anyone. In addition, he went to three balls on four of the 25 batters he faced.
While Price was keeping the opposition at bay, the Post 11 offense was slowly extending the lead. Jay Rose hit an opposite-field home run to left to begin the fourth. In the fifth, Noah Lancaster reached on a leadoff infield hit and continued to third on the throwing error. He scored on a grounder by Jackson Massey.
Wayne made it 6-1 in the sixth. Thomas Pilkington had a leadoff single, and Tyler Ham walked. The next two batters struck out, but Massey also walked to load the bases. Gourley drilled the next pitch up the middle for a two-run single.
Ham's RBI single in the seventh gave Wayne its biggest lead.
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI...........Durham..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf-cf..3..1..0..1........Martin cf..4..0..1..0
Gourley ss..5..0..2..2...........Ezzell 2b-p-rf..4..0..2..0
Davis cf..5..1..0..0................Mangini c..4..1..1..0
Casey rf..0..0..0..0...............Robinson 1b..4..1..1..1
Wooten 1b..4..1..2..2........... Moorman dh-3b..4..0..0..0
Rose dh..5..1..1..1.................Falcon 3b-2b..4..2..3..0
Pilkington 3b..4..1..1..0........Stover rf..3..0..1..1
Ham c..3..1..1..1....................Schlitz p-rf..0..0..0..0
Narron 2b..2..0..0..0............Robinson ph..0..1..0..0
Gurley 2b..1..0..0..0.............Kerwin ss..4..1..1..4
Lancaster lf..3..1..1..0...........Diala lf..4..0..0..0
Edgerton lf..1..0..0..0............................______
........................._____............................35..6..10..6
..........................36..7..8..7
Wayne...200...112...1.. - 7..8..0
Durham..010...000...005 - 6..10..4
E-Robinson, Kerwin, Falcon, Madden. DP-Wayne 1, Durham 1.
LOB-Wayne 8, Durham 3.
2B-Martin, Ezzell, Falcon, Mangini. 3B-Wooten. HR-Rose
SB-Massey, Gourley 2, Narron. CS-Pilkington.
Wayne....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Price (W)..7..6..1..1..0..3
Grice...... 1 2/3..4..5..5..1..2
Sasser(S)...1/3..0..0..0..0..1
Durham
Madden (L)5..4..4..3..2..4
Ezzell...........3..4..3..2..3..4
Schlitz..........1..0..0..0..0..1
WP-Ezzell. Bk-Ezzell. HBP- Narron (by Ezzell).
26 Game Totals; Scores
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVo0-P_sY1bGLA
Rowan 11, Randolph 7. Deciding game tonight.
Caldwell 12, Cherryville 17. Cherryville wins Area IV
http://www.caldwellbaseball.com/Legion/index.html
Rowan 11, Randolph 7. Deciding game tonight.
Caldwell 12, Cherryville 17. Cherryville wins Area IV
http://www.caldwellbaseball.com/Legion/index.html
e mërkurë, 1 gusht 2007
Wayne takes Area Opener
Walking a team's leading home run hitter intentionally late in the game might not be a bad idea. But it can be hazardous when it brings up the team's leader in runs batted in.
John Wooten drove in the go-ahead run in the last of the eighth and started a momentum-killing double play in the ninth as Wayne County Post 11 (22-4) rallied past Durham Post 7 (18-5) 3-2 at Mount Olive College Wednesday night in the opener of their best-of-three Area I title series.
The series resumes Friday night at the Durham Atheletic Park. If necessary, a third game will be played at MOC on Saturday. In other playoff action, Cherryville defeated Caldwell County 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five while Rowan County defeated Randolph County7-3 to still trail that series 3-2.
The score was tied at two in the eighth when leadoff batter Jackson Massey walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Post 7 rightfielder Nick Mangil made a diving catch of Walker Gourley's liner to bring up Garrett Davis, who leads Post 11 with five homers. He was given an intentional pass. Wooten, who entered the game with 27 RBI, took a breaking pitch, smoked a second one foul down the left field line, then drove another to left to bring home Massey.
But the ninth was anything but easy. T.J. Hinson hit leadoff batter Cameron Falcon, then gave up a groundball single to left to Sean Madden after Madden had attempted to advance Falcon with a bunt.
Durham chose not to bunt again, and Patrick Kerwin hit a one-hopper to Wooten at third. Wooten got to the bag and fired to first for the double play. Hinson got ahead 0-2 on Levi Diala with breaking pitches, then got him looking at a fastball to end it.
The game provided a stark contrast in pitching styles: Wayne's Davis and his fastball versus Durham's Barrett Sover and his changeup. According to Wayne coach Brad Reaves, the opposition got the better of it when it came to dealing with what the other hurler was throwing.
"We didn't make adjustments,"said Reaves. "I told them he was not going to knock the bat out of their hands. He ate us up with the changeup."
Durham got to Davis for two runs in the fifth, the first ones the UNC-bound righthander had allowed in more than 26 innings.
Leadoff batter Patrick Kerwin doubled to right centerfield and continued to third on an error. One out later, Lucas Martin singled up the middle. He went to third on a groundball single to right by Jacob Ezzell. Nick Mangil hit the first pitch through the right side for the lead, but Massey gunned down Ezzell at third.
Davis went six innings, allowing six hits and striking out 13.
"They did a good job on Garrett," said Reaves. "They took the ball to right field."
Wayne scored first in the fourth. Walker Gourley walked, stole second and came home on a one-out single to right by Wooten.
Post 11 tied it in the seventh. Nolan Lancaster reached on an infield single and came around when Conner Narron doubled over the head of the right fielder.
Wayne finished with six hits. "We're going to have to hit it better than this to win the series," said Reaves. "That's the best team we've seen this year."
Durham..AB..R..H..BI.........Wayne..AB..R..h..BI
Marin cf..4..1..1..1................Massey cf..2..1..1..0
Ezzell 2b..3..0..1..1...............Gourley ss..3..1..1..1
Mangil rf..3..0..1..0..............Davis p-cf..2..0..0..0
Robinson dh..3..0..0..0........Wooten 3b..4..0..2..2
Moorman c..4..0..2..0..........Rose 1b..4..0..0..0
Falcon 3b..2..0..0..0.............Lancaster cf-lf..4..1..1..0
Madden 1b..4..0..1..0...........Wright c..3..0..0..0
Kerwin ss..4..1..1..0..............Ham c..0..0..0..0
Diala lf..4..0..0..0...................Narron 2b..3..0..1..1
................._______..............Edgerton lf..2..0..0..0
.................31..2..7..2...............Sasser p..0..0..0..0
.................................................Pilkington ph..1..0..0..0
.................................................Hinson p..0..0..0..0
...............................................................________
.................................................................28..3..6..3
Durham..000...020...000 - 2..7..0
Wayne....000...100...11X - 3..6..2
E-Wooten, Lancaster. DP-Durham 2, Wayne 1. LOB-Durham, 7,
Wayne 7.
2B-Kerwin, Narron. SB-Diala, Gourley, Massey. S-Falcon, Mangil.
Durham..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Stover.....7..5..2..2..3..6
Robinson(L) 1..1..1..1..2..0
Wayne
Davis......6..6..2..2..1..13
Sasser.....1..0..0..0..0..1
Hinson(W)..2..1..0..0..1..1
WP-Robinson.HBP-Falcon (by Hinson).
John Wooten drove in the go-ahead run in the last of the eighth and started a momentum-killing double play in the ninth as Wayne County Post 11 (22-4) rallied past Durham Post 7 (18-5) 3-2 at Mount Olive College Wednesday night in the opener of their best-of-three Area I title series.
The series resumes Friday night at the Durham Atheletic Park. If necessary, a third game will be played at MOC on Saturday. In other playoff action, Cherryville defeated Caldwell County 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five while Rowan County defeated Randolph County7-3 to still trail that series 3-2.
The score was tied at two in the eighth when leadoff batter Jackson Massey walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Post 7 rightfielder Nick Mangil made a diving catch of Walker Gourley's liner to bring up Garrett Davis, who leads Post 11 with five homers. He was given an intentional pass. Wooten, who entered the game with 27 RBI, took a breaking pitch, smoked a second one foul down the left field line, then drove another to left to bring home Massey.
But the ninth was anything but easy. T.J. Hinson hit leadoff batter Cameron Falcon, then gave up a groundball single to left to Sean Madden after Madden had attempted to advance Falcon with a bunt.
Durham chose not to bunt again, and Patrick Kerwin hit a one-hopper to Wooten at third. Wooten got to the bag and fired to first for the double play. Hinson got ahead 0-2 on Levi Diala with breaking pitches, then got him looking at a fastball to end it.
The game provided a stark contrast in pitching styles: Wayne's Davis and his fastball versus Durham's Barrett Sover and his changeup. According to Wayne coach Brad Reaves, the opposition got the better of it when it came to dealing with what the other hurler was throwing.
"We didn't make adjustments,"said Reaves. "I told them he was not going to knock the bat out of their hands. He ate us up with the changeup."
Durham got to Davis for two runs in the fifth, the first ones the UNC-bound righthander had allowed in more than 26 innings.
Leadoff batter Patrick Kerwin doubled to right centerfield and continued to third on an error. One out later, Lucas Martin singled up the middle. He went to third on a groundball single to right by Jacob Ezzell. Nick Mangil hit the first pitch through the right side for the lead, but Massey gunned down Ezzell at third.
Davis went six innings, allowing six hits and striking out 13.
"They did a good job on Garrett," said Reaves. "They took the ball to right field."
Wayne scored first in the fourth. Walker Gourley walked, stole second and came home on a one-out single to right by Wooten.
Post 11 tied it in the seventh. Nolan Lancaster reached on an infield single and came around when Conner Narron doubled over the head of the right fielder.
Wayne finished with six hits. "We're going to have to hit it better than this to win the series," said Reaves. "That's the best team we've seen this year."
Durham..AB..R..H..BI.........Wayne..AB..R..h..BI
Marin cf..4..1..1..1................Massey cf..2..1..1..0
Ezzell 2b..3..0..1..1...............Gourley ss..3..1..1..1
Mangil rf..3..0..1..0..............Davis p-cf..2..0..0..0
Robinson dh..3..0..0..0........Wooten 3b..4..0..2..2
Moorman c..4..0..2..0..........Rose 1b..4..0..0..0
Falcon 3b..2..0..0..0.............Lancaster cf-lf..4..1..1..0
Madden 1b..4..0..1..0...........Wright c..3..0..0..0
Kerwin ss..4..1..1..0..............Ham c..0..0..0..0
Diala lf..4..0..0..0...................Narron 2b..3..0..1..1
................._______..............Edgerton lf..2..0..0..0
.................31..2..7..2...............Sasser p..0..0..0..0
.................................................Pilkington ph..1..0..0..0
.................................................Hinson p..0..0..0..0
...............................................................________
.................................................................28..3..6..3
Durham..000...020...000 - 2..7..0
Wayne....000...100...11X - 3..6..2
E-Wooten, Lancaster. DP-Durham 2, Wayne 1. LOB-Durham, 7,
Wayne 7.
2B-Kerwin, Narron. SB-Diala, Gourley, Massey. S-Falcon, Mangil.
Durham..IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Stover.....7..5..2..2..3..6
Robinson(L) 1..1..1..1..2..0
Wayne
Davis......6..6..2..2..1..13
Sasser.....1..0..0..0..0..1
Hinson(W)..2..1..0..0..1..1
WP-Robinson.HBP-Falcon (by Hinson).
State Tourney Pairings Set
State tournament pairingsN.C. American Legion officials released the N.C. State tournament pairings for next week’s tournament in Garner.
In the August 8 opening day, Area II champion Morehead City will play the Area III runnerup (Rowan County or Randolph County) at 9:30 a.m.
The Area IV runnerup (Caldwell or Cherryville) will play the Area I champion (Durham or Wayne County) at 12:30 p.m.
The Area IV champion (Caldwell or Cherryville) will play the Area I runnerup (Durham or Wayne County) at 4:30 p.m.
Garner will play the Area III champion (Rowan County or Randolph County) at 7:30 p.m.
In the August 8 opening day, Area II champion Morehead City will play the Area III runnerup (Rowan County or Randolph County) at 9:30 a.m.
The Area IV runnerup (Caldwell or Cherryville) will play the Area I champion (Durham or Wayne County) at 12:30 p.m.
The Area IV champion (Caldwell or Cherryville) will play the Area I runnerup (Durham or Wayne County) at 4:30 p.m.
Garner will play the Area III champion (Rowan County or Randolph County) at 7:30 p.m.
e martë, 31 korrik 2007
Tuesday's American Legion Scores
Rowan 5, Randolph 8
Randolph leads 3-1
Caldwell 15, Cherryville 0
Tied at one, best-of-five.
Randolph leads 3-1
Caldwell 15, Cherryville 0
Tied at one, best-of-five.
e hënë, 30 korrik 2007
Field Is Set For State Tournament
Morehead City defeats Scotland County 7-0 to take the Area II title.
Cherryville wins at Caldwell County 6-3 in the first game of their best-of-five Area IV series.
Also Monday, Randolph County (38-13) defeats Rowan County (37-4) 5-4 to take a 2-1 lead in the Area III series. Three of Rowan's losses have been against Randolph.
Cherryville wins at Caldwell County 6-3 in the first game of their best-of-five Area IV series.
Also Monday, Randolph County (38-13) defeats Rowan County (37-4) 5-4 to take a 2-1 lead in the Area III series. Three of Rowan's losses have been against Randolph.
Schedule Set For Area I Final
Wednesday: Mount Olive College
Thursday: No game
Friday: Durham Athletic Park (Take the Duke St. exit off the Durham Freeway and turn right on Corporation Street across from the high school.)
Saturday: (if necessary) MOC
Thursday: No game
Friday: Durham Athletic Park (Take the Duke St. exit off the Durham Freeway and turn right on Corporation Street across from the high school.)
Saturday: (if necessary) MOC
e diel, 29 korrik 2007
Durham Outlasts Garner, Plays Wayne Wednesday
Welcome to anyone from the Durham team. I'll try to provide you with a decent story.
If you like offense, the Durham Athletic Park was the place to be Sunday night.
Durham Post 7 failed to hold an twelve-run lead, then scored three in the last of the eighth to defeat Garner Post 232 21-19 and take the Area I West title. Durham (26-4) will travel to Area I East champ Wayne County (21-4) in a best-of-three series beginning Wednesday.
Garner trailed 16-4 after four innings, but battled back with the aid of the long ball. In the Garner sixth, the first two batters struck out. Landon Adams singled and Corey Carver walked to set up a two-run double by Jeremy Hall.
Again in the seventh, the first two batters went down, but Bryan Sears kept the inning going with a single. Josh Young walked, and Darren Tew homered to right on a 3-2 pitch. Corey Carver's RBI double got Garner within five.
After going through three pitchers, Garner finally found someone to slow down the Durham bats. Tew took to the mound inthe fifth and limited Durham to a hit over the next two innings.
That gave Post 232 time to catch up and, for the third straight inning it all happened with two out and nobody on. Ryan Primus reached on an error to start the eighth, and Hunter Smith singled through the right side of the infield. Zack Bingham's grounder was mishandled to load the bases. Sears followed with an RBI single, but the next batter popped up.
Tew then tied the game in dramatic fashion by drilling a breaking pitch over the right field fence to tie the game.
But Post 7 came back in the home half of the inning. Tew hit leadoff batter Ezzell with a 1-2 breaking pitch. He then tried to force a play at second on David Prince's bunt, and the ball skidded into centerfield to put runners on second and third.
Garner got an out at home on a grounder, but Seth Moorman singled to left to break the tie. Sean Madden was thrown out at home on Cameron Falcon's hit. Stover then gave his team some breathing room with a two-run double to left.
Garner scored once in the ninth and got the tying run to the plate, but the game ended on a fly ball to center.
Garner led early, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings, including a two-run homer by Corey Carver, only to have Durham go on an offensive rampage.
Garner starter Zack Howell walked the first two batters in the fifth, followed by a sacrifce bunt. Barrett Stover drove them in with a double to left centerfield. Levi Diala added a run-scoring single, and Jacob Ezzell put Post 7 ahead with an opposite-field single down the right field line.
Durham seemingly put the game out of reach with 10 runs in the fourth on seven hits, four errors and three walks. Patrick Kerwin, Moorman, Lucans Martin and Tarron Robinson all had run-scoring hits. Durham added two in the fifth for its biggest lead.
If you like offense, the Durham Athletic Park was the place to be Sunday night.
Durham Post 7 failed to hold an twelve-run lead, then scored three in the last of the eighth to defeat Garner Post 232 21-19 and take the Area I West title. Durham (26-4) will travel to Area I East champ Wayne County (21-4) in a best-of-three series beginning Wednesday.
Garner trailed 16-4 after four innings, but battled back with the aid of the long ball. In the Garner sixth, the first two batters struck out. Landon Adams singled and Corey Carver walked to set up a two-run double by Jeremy Hall.
Again in the seventh, the first two batters went down, but Bryan Sears kept the inning going with a single. Josh Young walked, and Darren Tew homered to right on a 3-2 pitch. Corey Carver's RBI double got Garner within five.
After going through three pitchers, Garner finally found someone to slow down the Durham bats. Tew took to the mound inthe fifth and limited Durham to a hit over the next two innings.
That gave Post 232 time to catch up and, for the third straight inning it all happened with two out and nobody on. Ryan Primus reached on an error to start the eighth, and Hunter Smith singled through the right side of the infield. Zack Bingham's grounder was mishandled to load the bases. Sears followed with an RBI single, but the next batter popped up.
Tew then tied the game in dramatic fashion by drilling a breaking pitch over the right field fence to tie the game.
But Post 7 came back in the home half of the inning. Tew hit leadoff batter Ezzell with a 1-2 breaking pitch. He then tried to force a play at second on David Prince's bunt, and the ball skidded into centerfield to put runners on second and third.
Garner got an out at home on a grounder, but Seth Moorman singled to left to break the tie. Sean Madden was thrown out at home on Cameron Falcon's hit. Stover then gave his team some breathing room with a two-run double to left.
Garner scored once in the ninth and got the tying run to the plate, but the game ended on a fly ball to center.
Garner led early, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings, including a two-run homer by Corey Carver, only to have Durham go on an offensive rampage.
Garner starter Zack Howell walked the first two batters in the fifth, followed by a sacrifce bunt. Barrett Stover drove them in with a double to left centerfield. Levi Diala added a run-scoring single, and Jacob Ezzell put Post 7 ahead with an opposite-field single down the right field line.
Durham seemingly put the game out of reach with 10 runs in the fourth on seven hits, four errors and three walks. Patrick Kerwin, Moorman, Lucans Martin and Tarron Robinson all had run-scoring hits. Durham added two in the fifth for its biggest lead.
25 Game Totals; State Tournament Almost Set
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVrDi4yvKCNpWg
The field for the 2007 tournament is almost set.
Area I: Wayne County, Durham, Garner (Durham leads best-of-five series 2-0)
Area II: 2006 state champ Morehead City leads Scotland County 2-0 in best-of-five.
AreaIII: Rowan County, Randolph County
Area IV: Caldwell County, Cherryville
Area II gets one team.
The field for the 2007 tournament is almost set.
Area I: Wayne County, Durham, Garner (Durham leads best-of-five series 2-0)
Area II: 2006 state champ Morehead City leads Scotland County 2-0 in best-of-five.
AreaIII: Rowan County, Randolph County
Area IV: Caldwell County, Cherryville
Area II gets one team.
e shtunë, 28 korrik 2007
Wayne Claims Another League Postseason Title
New Bern - After saying earlier this week that Wayne County Post 11 "carries themselves like the New York Yankees," New Bern Post 24 player Sam Sanders got a taste of a younger version of the Bronx Bombers Saturday afternoon at Boykin Field.
John Wooten, Nolan Lancaster and Garrett Davis homered as part of a 15-hit attack as Wayne claimed its seventh Area I East title in 14 years with a 15-8 win to put itself in the American Legion state tournament August 7 in Garner.
Wayne (21-4) will take on the winner of the Area I West series between Garner and Durham in a best-of-three starting Wednesday at a site to be determined. Both teams in the area final will be in the state event, so the series is about placement in the eight-team field.
The state tournament format began in 2000. Wayne appeared in the event in the first year as well as 2002 and 2004.
Wayne struggled offensively in the first two rounds of the playoffs, relying on the stellar work of its pitching staff. But the bats came alive against New Bern, as Wayne batted .359 with 11 extra base hits.
Wooten set the tone early as Wayne grabbed the first-inning lead and never looked back. Walker Gourly singled with one out, and Davis walked. Wooten drove the second pitch to left and hit the light pole to give Wayne a lead it wouldn't give up.
After New Bern answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, Wayne added three more. conner Narron had a leadoff double to left centerfield, and Jackson Massey walked. Walker Gourley tripled to centerand came home on a fly ball by Davis.
Wayne starter Taylor Bullard breezed through the next two innings before giving up two runs in the fourth to make it 6-3. Lancaster's solo home run in the fourth and a run-scoring single by Tyler Ham in the fifth put Wayne ahead 8-3. Bullard retired the first two batters in the home half before Post 24 scored two unearned runs on two errors and a passed ball.
Massey started thej Wayne sixth with a single. One out later, Davis sent a shot down the right field line, and it curved around the foul pole to put his team ahead 10-5.
But New Bern kept coming as Chris Dorman and Austin Zehr singled to begin the last of the sixth. That spelled the end for Bullard and brought on Sterling Grice. He rose to the challenge by getting a fly ball and an inning-ending double play.
But he couldn't keep it going. Matt Hardeman drew a leadoff walk in the seventh before Grice retired the next batter on a fly ball. Grice got a grounder off the bat of Alan Edwards, but the ball went between the legs of Narron at second to spoil a potential double play. Sanders walked to load the bases, and a run came home on a wild pitch. Chris Dorman lined a two-run single down the third base line to make it 10-8.
Grice gave way to Brandon Price, and the veteran right-hander was just what Post 11 needed. He got the next two batters on a fly ball and a strikeout to preserve the lead.
While New Bern was scoring, it couldn't put the brakes on the Wayne bats as Post 11 responded with a back-breaking five-run eighth. Davis doubled, Wooten was hit by a pitch and Jay Rose lined a two-run double down the first base line. He scored after the ball was thrown away on Thomas Pilkington's infield hit. Massey finished the scoring with a two-out, two-run single.
Price gave up a leadoff double and a walk to start the New Bern eighth, but first baseman Wooten started a double play to kill the rally.
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI...........New Bern..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..5..2..2..2............BDorman..3..1..2..0
Gourley 2b..6..2..2..2..........LeBlanc..4..0..0..0
Davis cf..4..3..2..3................Hardeman 3b..3..2..1..0
Wooten 1b..5..2..2..3...........Williams rf..5..1..0..1
Rose dh..5..2..2..2................Edwards 1b-p..4..2..1..0
Pilkington 3b..4..1..1..1........Sanders dh..2..2..1..1
Ham c..5..0..1..0...................Varner 1b..0..0..0..0
Narron 2b..3..1..1..0.............CDorman..5..0..2..2
Gurley 2b..1..1..1..0..............Zehr c..5..0..1..1
Lancaster lf..3..1..1..1............Holloman lf..3..0..0..0
Casey lf..0..0..0..0.................Cook lf..1..0..0..0
.................________............................________
.................41..15..15..14..........................35..8..9..5
Wayne.........330...112...050 - 15...15...3
New Bern....100...220...300 - 8...9...2
E-Massey, Pilkington, Nobles, Narron, CDorman. DP-Wayne 2,
NB 1. LOB-Wayne 8, NB 9.
2B-BDorman 2Narron Davis, Rose.
3B-Gourley
HR-Wooten, Lancaster, Davis.
SB-Williams, Edwards.
SF-Davis
Wayne...IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Bullard W(3-0) 5..7..5..3..3..3
Grice....1 1/3..1..3..1..3..0
Price.....2 2/3..1..0..0..2..1
NB
O'Brien (L)...2..4..6..6..2..1
Nobles...5 1/3..8..7..7..2..5
Edwards..1 2/3..3..2..2..1..2
WP-Bullard, Grice.
PB-Zehr, Ham.
HBP-Sanders (by Bullard), Narron (by Nobles), Lancaster (by Nobles),
Wooten (by Nobles).
John Wooten, Nolan Lancaster and Garrett Davis homered as part of a 15-hit attack as Wayne claimed its seventh Area I East title in 14 years with a 15-8 win to put itself in the American Legion state tournament August 7 in Garner.
Wayne (21-4) will take on the winner of the Area I West series between Garner and Durham in a best-of-three starting Wednesday at a site to be determined. Both teams in the area final will be in the state event, so the series is about placement in the eight-team field.
The state tournament format began in 2000. Wayne appeared in the event in the first year as well as 2002 and 2004.
Wayne struggled offensively in the first two rounds of the playoffs, relying on the stellar work of its pitching staff. But the bats came alive against New Bern, as Wayne batted .359 with 11 extra base hits.
Wooten set the tone early as Wayne grabbed the first-inning lead and never looked back. Walker Gourly singled with one out, and Davis walked. Wooten drove the second pitch to left and hit the light pole to give Wayne a lead it wouldn't give up.
After New Bern answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, Wayne added three more. conner Narron had a leadoff double to left centerfield, and Jackson Massey walked. Walker Gourley tripled to centerand came home on a fly ball by Davis.
Wayne starter Taylor Bullard breezed through the next two innings before giving up two runs in the fourth to make it 6-3. Lancaster's solo home run in the fourth and a run-scoring single by Tyler Ham in the fifth put Wayne ahead 8-3. Bullard retired the first two batters in the home half before Post 24 scored two unearned runs on two errors and a passed ball.
Massey started thej Wayne sixth with a single. One out later, Davis sent a shot down the right field line, and it curved around the foul pole to put his team ahead 10-5.
But New Bern kept coming as Chris Dorman and Austin Zehr singled to begin the last of the sixth. That spelled the end for Bullard and brought on Sterling Grice. He rose to the challenge by getting a fly ball and an inning-ending double play.
But he couldn't keep it going. Matt Hardeman drew a leadoff walk in the seventh before Grice retired the next batter on a fly ball. Grice got a grounder off the bat of Alan Edwards, but the ball went between the legs of Narron at second to spoil a potential double play. Sanders walked to load the bases, and a run came home on a wild pitch. Chris Dorman lined a two-run single down the third base line to make it 10-8.
Grice gave way to Brandon Price, and the veteran right-hander was just what Post 11 needed. He got the next two batters on a fly ball and a strikeout to preserve the lead.
While New Bern was scoring, it couldn't put the brakes on the Wayne bats as Post 11 responded with a back-breaking five-run eighth. Davis doubled, Wooten was hit by a pitch and Jay Rose lined a two-run double down the first base line. He scored after the ball was thrown away on Thomas Pilkington's infield hit. Massey finished the scoring with a two-out, two-run single.
Price gave up a leadoff double and a walk to start the New Bern eighth, but first baseman Wooten started a double play to kill the rally.
Wayne..AB..R..H..BI...........New Bern..AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..5..2..2..2............BDorman..3..1..2..0
Gourley 2b..6..2..2..2..........LeBlanc..4..0..0..0
Davis cf..4..3..2..3................Hardeman 3b..3..2..1..0
Wooten 1b..5..2..2..3...........Williams rf..5..1..0..1
Rose dh..5..2..2..2................Edwards 1b-p..4..2..1..0
Pilkington 3b..4..1..1..1........Sanders dh..2..2..1..1
Ham c..5..0..1..0...................Varner 1b..0..0..0..0
Narron 2b..3..1..1..0.............CDorman..5..0..2..2
Gurley 2b..1..1..1..0..............Zehr c..5..0..1..1
Lancaster lf..3..1..1..1............Holloman lf..3..0..0..0
Casey lf..0..0..0..0.................Cook lf..1..0..0..0
.................________............................________
.................41..15..15..14..........................35..8..9..5
Wayne.........330...112...050 - 15...15...3
New Bern....100...220...300 - 8...9...2
E-Massey, Pilkington, Nobles, Narron, CDorman. DP-Wayne 2,
NB 1. LOB-Wayne 8, NB 9.
2B-BDorman 2Narron Davis, Rose.
3B-Gourley
HR-Wooten, Lancaster, Davis.
SB-Williams, Edwards.
SF-Davis
Wayne...IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Bullard W(3-0) 5..7..5..3..3..3
Grice....1 1/3..1..3..1..3..0
Price.....2 2/3..1..0..0..2..1
NB
O'Brien (L)...2..4..6..6..2..1
Nobles...5 1/3..8..7..7..2..5
Edwards..1 2/3..3..2..2..1..2
WP-Bullard, Grice.
PB-Zehr, Ham.
HBP-Sanders (by Bullard), Narron (by Nobles), Lancaster (by Nobles),
Wooten (by Nobles).
Post 11 One Win From State Tournament
Do you think Brandon DeLong has seen enough of Scarborough Field?
A day after losing the Area I East title series opener with its best pitcher, New Bern Post 24 desperately needed a solid effort from its starter in game two against Wayne County Post 11. Enter DeLong, who had been pounded in Wayne's 10-6 regular season win at Mount Olive College. In that meeting, DeLong didn't make it out of the third inning, yielding 11 hits and eight runs.
Second verse, same as the first.
A resurgent Wayne offense struck for seven runs in the fourth and rolled to a 12-2 win in seven innings to place New Bern, the Area I East South Division champ, on the brink of elimination. The teams will play in New Bern this afternoon at two as Post 24 will attempt to win three straight at home. Taylor Bullard will get the starting nod for Wayne (20-4).
DeLong retired the first two batters in the big inning and appeared to be on the verge of holding Post 11 to a 2-0 lead. But everything fell apart. Conner Narron, who has become an offensive contributor after a horrific start, lined a single to left, and Zack Wright reached on an infield hit.
Jackson Massey, who had three hits and four runs, singled through the left side of the infield for a run. He and Wright advanced on the throw home. Walker Gourley drove in both with a hit to left on the first pitch.
After Garrett Davis walked, John Wooten and Jay Rose singled home runs to mark the end of DeLong's stint on the mound. Nolan Lancaster followed a walk with a two-run single through the left side of the infield for a 9-0 lead.
That would be more than enough for Wayne starter Grant Sasser. The lefty had taken the loss when New Bern took advantage of shoddy play behind him to win the regular season title 8-3. The defense again had its problems with four errors, but Sasser was more than up to the occasion this time. New Bern's two runs came in the fifth on three hits, two of them bunts, and an error. Sasser threw 70 of his 96 pitches for strikes.
He went six innings, allowing four hits while striking out eight with one walk.
In the seventh, Narron walked and Wright's liner to right was misplayed for an error. Massey walked on a full count. One out later, Davis checked his swing, but the ball fell into left for a two-run single, and Wayne was one step closer to a trip to Garner.
New Bern...AB..R..H..BI............Wayne...AB..R..H..BI
BDorman cf..4..0..1..0.................Massey rf...3..4..3..1
LeBlanc 2b...3..0..0..0.................Gourley ss...4..1..2..3
Hardeman 3b...3..0..1..0.............Davis cf...4..1..2..4
Williams rf-p...3..0..0..0..............Wooten 3b...3..1..1..1
Edwards dh...2..0..0..0................Rose 1b...4..1..1..1
Spinner rf ...1..0..0..0...................Pilkington dh...3..0..0..0
Cook 1b...1..0..0..0.......................Lancaster lf...4..0..2..2
Varner 1b...0..0..0..0...................Narron 2b...2..2..1..0
CDorman ss...3..1..1..1..................Wright c...4..2..1..0
Zehr c...3..0..0..0............................................_________
Holloway lf...3..1..1..0.....................................32..12..13..12
.....................________
......................26..2..4..0
New Bern...000...020...0 - 2..4..3
Wayne.........101...710...2 - 12..13..4
E-Rose 2, Wooten Sasser, Zehr, Varner, Spinner. DP-Wayne 1.
LOB-NB 6, Wayne 8. 3B-Gourley. SB-Massey 2, Edwards, Lancaster,
Gourley, Davis. CS-Lancaster. S-Cook.
NB.............IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
DeLong (L) 3 2/3..10..9..9..3..2
O'Brien........1/3..1..0..0..1..1
Williams.......2 1/3..2..3..2..3..2
Wayne
Sasser (W)..6..4..2..0..1..8
Grice............1..0..0..0.0..2
HBP-Varner (by Sasser.)
A day after losing the Area I East title series opener with its best pitcher, New Bern Post 24 desperately needed a solid effort from its starter in game two against Wayne County Post 11. Enter DeLong, who had been pounded in Wayne's 10-6 regular season win at Mount Olive College. In that meeting, DeLong didn't make it out of the third inning, yielding 11 hits and eight runs.
Second verse, same as the first.
A resurgent Wayne offense struck for seven runs in the fourth and rolled to a 12-2 win in seven innings to place New Bern, the Area I East South Division champ, on the brink of elimination. The teams will play in New Bern this afternoon at two as Post 24 will attempt to win three straight at home. Taylor Bullard will get the starting nod for Wayne (20-4).
DeLong retired the first two batters in the big inning and appeared to be on the verge of holding Post 11 to a 2-0 lead. But everything fell apart. Conner Narron, who has become an offensive contributor after a horrific start, lined a single to left, and Zack Wright reached on an infield hit.
Jackson Massey, who had three hits and four runs, singled through the left side of the infield for a run. He and Wright advanced on the throw home. Walker Gourley drove in both with a hit to left on the first pitch.
After Garrett Davis walked, John Wooten and Jay Rose singled home runs to mark the end of DeLong's stint on the mound. Nolan Lancaster followed a walk with a two-run single through the left side of the infield for a 9-0 lead.
That would be more than enough for Wayne starter Grant Sasser. The lefty had taken the loss when New Bern took advantage of shoddy play behind him to win the regular season title 8-3. The defense again had its problems with four errors, but Sasser was more than up to the occasion this time. New Bern's two runs came in the fifth on three hits, two of them bunts, and an error. Sasser threw 70 of his 96 pitches for strikes.
He went six innings, allowing four hits while striking out eight with one walk.
In the seventh, Narron walked and Wright's liner to right was misplayed for an error. Massey walked on a full count. One out later, Davis checked his swing, but the ball fell into left for a two-run single, and Wayne was one step closer to a trip to Garner.
New Bern...AB..R..H..BI............Wayne...AB..R..H..BI
BDorman cf..4..0..1..0.................Massey rf...3..4..3..1
LeBlanc 2b...3..0..0..0.................Gourley ss...4..1..2..3
Hardeman 3b...3..0..1..0.............Davis cf...4..1..2..4
Williams rf-p...3..0..0..0..............Wooten 3b...3..1..1..1
Edwards dh...2..0..0..0................Rose 1b...4..1..1..1
Spinner rf ...1..0..0..0...................Pilkington dh...3..0..0..0
Cook 1b...1..0..0..0.......................Lancaster lf...4..0..2..2
Varner 1b...0..0..0..0...................Narron 2b...2..2..1..0
CDorman ss...3..1..1..1..................Wright c...4..2..1..0
Zehr c...3..0..0..0............................................_________
Holloway lf...3..1..1..0.....................................32..12..13..12
.....................________
......................26..2..4..0
New Bern...000...020...0 - 2..4..3
Wayne.........101...710...2 - 12..13..4
E-Rose 2, Wooten Sasser, Zehr, Varner, Spinner. DP-Wayne 1.
LOB-NB 6, Wayne 8. 3B-Gourley. SB-Massey 2, Edwards, Lancaster,
Gourley, Davis. CS-Lancaster. S-Cook.
NB.............IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
DeLong (L) 3 2/3..10..9..9..3..2
O'Brien........1/3..1..0..0..1..1
Williams.......2 1/3..2..3..2..3..2
Wayne
Sasser (W)..6..4..2..0..1..8
Grice............1..0..0..0.0..2
HBP-Varner (by Sasser.)
e premte, 27 korrik 2007
Wayne Takes Game One Thriller
Wayne County Post 11 took a giant step toward earning a berth in the American Legion state tournament next month in Garner with 4-1 win over New Bern Post 24 Thursday night at Mount Olive College in the opening game of their Area I East best-of-five title series.
The win snapped New Bern's 13-game winning streak and extended Wayne's to six. Wayne (19-4) will send Grant Sasser to the mound tonight at home. Sasser took the loss in the last regular season game when New Bern (16-7) defeated Wayne 8-3 for the Area I East South Division crown. Game three is scheduled for New Bern Saturday afternoon at two.
The first half of the contest lacked a lot in the way of excitement, but the ending made up for it. The score was tied at one when Wayne broke out of its offensive doldrums with three runs in the eighth against New Bern ace Keith Spinner.
Jackson Massey, who leads Wayne in on-base percentage, drew a walk on a 3-2 fastball. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Walker Gourley laid a bunt down the third base line, and the third baseman, who was trying to cover the bag against Massey, couldn't get to it in time.
Wayne now had a threat, and it was up to Garrett Davis to make good on it. He came through by nailing an 0-1 fastball to right centerfield for a double and the lead. John Wooten drove in the second run with a single to right.
Jay Rose hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice at second as New Bern chose to go for the double play. Tyler Ham walked, and that spelled the end for Spinner and his streak of five straight complete games. New Bern did get a twin killer on the next play.
So it was on to the ninth, and Hinson was looking for his second complete game of the season. The big right-hander entered the game with seven walks in 39 1/3 innings, but he had struggled with his control for much of the game and, in the final inning, it almost proved to be Wayne's undoing.
Hinson had thrown 133 pitches through eight innings. He walked leadoff batter Alan Edwards on a full count. David Cook worked the count full before taking a called fastball for the first out. A grounder to Hinson meant he was one out from the win.
But he couldn't get through the inning, walking Austin Zehr on four pitches and hitting Anthony Holloway to load the bases. It was Brandon Price's turn to close it out.
Price went 3-2 on Bobby Dorman. The New Bern leadoff hitter sent a shot to left, and Will Edgerton sprinted for it. He dove, made a backhanded stab and the game was over.
Hinson started the game by striking out the side in the first and retiring the side in order in the second. New Bern's Chris Dorman singled to start the third, but was erased at second on a bunt to Hinson. Holloway walked. Dorman's grounder was misplayed to load the bases, and Zehr scored when Wayne was unable to turn the double play.
Hinson again struck out the side in the fourth, fanned two of the three batters he faced in the fifth and got out of another jam in the sixth.
Two walks and a booted double play ball loaded the bases with one out to bring up cleanup hitter Matt Wiliams. He sent a 2-2 breaking pitch skying down the left field line, where it hit the fence just outside the foul pole. Hinson fanned him on a fastball, then got a grounder back to the mound to keep the deficit at one.
Wayne finally got to Skinner in the home half after he had struck out the first two batters. John Wooten singled to center, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a hit up the middle by Jay Rose.
There were 19 full counts as both pitchers ran up their pitch totals. Spinner threw 136. The Wayne pitching staff has allowed one earned run in the playoffs.
New Bern..AB..R..H..BI..........Wayne..AB..R..H..BI
BDorman cf..4..0..0..0.............Massey rf..2..1..0..0
Sanders 2b..2..0..0..1...............Gourley ss-2b..4..1..1..0
LeBlenc 2b..1..0..0..0...............Davis cf..4..1..1..1
Hardemen 3..0..0..0.................Wooten 3b..4..1..2..1
Williams rf..4..0..0..0...............Casey pr..0..0..0..0
Edwards 3..0..0..0....................Rose 1b..4..0..2..2
Cook dh ..3..0..0..0....................Ham c..3..0..2..0
CDorman ss..4..0..1..0...............Pilkington dh..4..0..0..0
Zehr c..3..1..1..0.........................Narron 2b-ss..2..0..1..0
Holloway lf..2..0..0..0................Edgerton lf..3..0..0..0
....................._______...................................._______
.....................29..1..2..1......................................30..4..9..4
New Bern...001...000...000 - 1...2...0
Wayne........000...001...03X - 4...9...3
E-Gourley 2, Narron. DP-New Bern 1, Wayne 1. LOB-New Bern 9,
Wayne 6.
2B-Narron, Davis. CS-Sanders, Rose 2, LeBlenc.
New Bern...IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Spinner (L) 7 1/3..9..4..4...4..6
O'Brien...........2/3..0..0..0..0..0
Wayne
Hinson (W) 8 2/3..2..1..0..7..13
Price (S)........1/3..0..0..0..0..0
WP-Spinner 2. HBP-Holloway (by Hinson).
The win snapped New Bern's 13-game winning streak and extended Wayne's to six. Wayne (19-4) will send Grant Sasser to the mound tonight at home. Sasser took the loss in the last regular season game when New Bern (16-7) defeated Wayne 8-3 for the Area I East South Division crown. Game three is scheduled for New Bern Saturday afternoon at two.
The first half of the contest lacked a lot in the way of excitement, but the ending made up for it. The score was tied at one when Wayne broke out of its offensive doldrums with three runs in the eighth against New Bern ace Keith Spinner.
Jackson Massey, who leads Wayne in on-base percentage, drew a walk on a 3-2 fastball. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Walker Gourley laid a bunt down the third base line, and the third baseman, who was trying to cover the bag against Massey, couldn't get to it in time.
Wayne now had a threat, and it was up to Garrett Davis to make good on it. He came through by nailing an 0-1 fastball to right centerfield for a double and the lead. John Wooten drove in the second run with a single to right.
Jay Rose hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice at second as New Bern chose to go for the double play. Tyler Ham walked, and that spelled the end for Spinner and his streak of five straight complete games. New Bern did get a twin killer on the next play.
So it was on to the ninth, and Hinson was looking for his second complete game of the season. The big right-hander entered the game with seven walks in 39 1/3 innings, but he had struggled with his control for much of the game and, in the final inning, it almost proved to be Wayne's undoing.
Hinson had thrown 133 pitches through eight innings. He walked leadoff batter Alan Edwards on a full count. David Cook worked the count full before taking a called fastball for the first out. A grounder to Hinson meant he was one out from the win.
But he couldn't get through the inning, walking Austin Zehr on four pitches and hitting Anthony Holloway to load the bases. It was Brandon Price's turn to close it out.
Price went 3-2 on Bobby Dorman. The New Bern leadoff hitter sent a shot to left, and Will Edgerton sprinted for it. He dove, made a backhanded stab and the game was over.
Hinson started the game by striking out the side in the first and retiring the side in order in the second. New Bern's Chris Dorman singled to start the third, but was erased at second on a bunt to Hinson. Holloway walked. Dorman's grounder was misplayed to load the bases, and Zehr scored when Wayne was unable to turn the double play.
Hinson again struck out the side in the fourth, fanned two of the three batters he faced in the fifth and got out of another jam in the sixth.
Two walks and a booted double play ball loaded the bases with one out to bring up cleanup hitter Matt Wiliams. He sent a 2-2 breaking pitch skying down the left field line, where it hit the fence just outside the foul pole. Hinson fanned him on a fastball, then got a grounder back to the mound to keep the deficit at one.
Wayne finally got to Skinner in the home half after he had struck out the first two batters. John Wooten singled to center, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a hit up the middle by Jay Rose.
There were 19 full counts as both pitchers ran up their pitch totals. Spinner threw 136. The Wayne pitching staff has allowed one earned run in the playoffs.
New Bern..AB..R..H..BI..........Wayne..AB..R..H..BI
BDorman cf..4..0..0..0.............Massey rf..2..1..0..0
Sanders 2b..2..0..0..1...............Gourley ss-2b..4..1..1..0
LeBlenc 2b..1..0..0..0...............Davis cf..4..1..1..1
Hardemen 3..0..0..0.................Wooten 3b..4..1..2..1
Williams rf..4..0..0..0...............Casey pr..0..0..0..0
Edwards 3..0..0..0....................Rose 1b..4..0..2..2
Cook dh ..3..0..0..0....................Ham c..3..0..2..0
CDorman ss..4..0..1..0...............Pilkington dh..4..0..0..0
Zehr c..3..1..1..0.........................Narron 2b-ss..2..0..1..0
Holloway lf..2..0..0..0................Edgerton lf..3..0..0..0
....................._______...................................._______
.....................29..1..2..1......................................30..4..9..4
New Bern...001...000...000 - 1...2...0
Wayne........000...001...03X - 4...9...3
E-Gourley 2, Narron. DP-New Bern 1, Wayne 1. LOB-New Bern 9,
Wayne 6.
2B-Narron, Davis. CS-Sanders, Rose 2, LeBlenc.
New Bern...IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Spinner (L) 7 1/3..9..4..4...4..6
O'Brien...........2/3..0..0..0..0..0
Wayne
Hinson (W) 8 2/3..2..1..0..7..13
Price (S)........1/3..0..0..0..0..0
WP-Spinner 2. HBP-Holloway (by Hinson).
e enjte, 26 korrik 2007
New Bern Paper's Pre-series Story
http://www.newbernsj.com/sports/post_35633___article.html/new_bern.html
“Wayne County carries themselves like the New York Yankees,” Sanders said of Post 11.... “We know they think they are a good team. We think they are a good team. But we think we’re a good team as well.”
“Wayne County carries themselves like the New York Yankees,” Sanders said of Post 11.... “We know they think they are a good team. We think they are a good team. But we think we’re a good team as well.”
e mërkurë, 25 korrik 2007
OBP; Who's Hot, Who's Not
On-base percentages are better than batting average (actually, it's a percentage) when it comes to measuring how a player is doing. Here are the Post 11 numbers:
Jackson Massey 55/107.514
Thomas Pilkington 32/66/.485
Garrett Davis 30/62/.484
Walker Gourley 47/98/.480
Tyler Ham 23/50/.460
John Wooten 39/91/.429
Nolan Lancaster 30/72/.417
Will Edgerton 29/78/.372
Jay Rose 25/68/.368
Zack Wright 14/47/.298
Who's Hot
The Wayne pitching staff has allowed seven runs, three earned, in the playoffs for a 0.64 earned run average.
Who's Not
The offense. It's hitting .218 in the past six games. since getting 14 hits against Pitt 160 in game 16, Wayne has not gotten more than eight in a game.
Some individual numbers of late:
Walker Gourley: 2/21
Nolan Lancaster: 3/14
Garrett Davis: 4/17
Will Edgerton: 3/16
Jay Rose: 1/12
Collectively, This group is 13/80.
Jackson Massey 55/107.514
Thomas Pilkington 32/66/.485
Garrett Davis 30/62/.484
Walker Gourley 47/98/.480
Tyler Ham 23/50/.460
John Wooten 39/91/.429
Nolan Lancaster 30/72/.417
Will Edgerton 29/78/.372
Jay Rose 25/68/.368
Zack Wright 14/47/.298
Who's Hot
The Wayne pitching staff has allowed seven runs, three earned, in the playoffs for a 0.64 earned run average.
Who's Not
The offense. It's hitting .218 in the past six games. since getting 14 hits against Pitt 160 in game 16, Wayne has not gotten more than eight in a game.
Some individual numbers of late:
Walker Gourley: 2/21
Nolan Lancaster: 3/14
Garrett Davis: 4/17
Will Edgerton: 3/16
Jay Rose: 1/12
Collectively, This group is 13/80.
e martë, 24 korrik 2007
Schedule Change
The first two games of the Wayne County-New Bern series will be played at Mount Olive College. Game three will be in New Bern Saturday afternoon at two.
e hënë, 23 korrik 2007
22 Game Totals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVpI078lXGS6HA
Welcome to anyone from the NC Legion state tournament site. As you may know, any old stories can be accessed from the archives on the right. Please excuse my typing due to a broken wrist.
Welcome to anyone from the NC Legion state tournament site. As you may know, any old stories can be accessed from the archives on the right. Please excuse my typing due to a broken wrist.
Wayne Moves Into Area I East Title Series.
Note: Look for the stats this evening.
EDENTON - Wayne County Post 11 is back in a familiar spot: the Area I East championship series.
Garrett Davis turned in another dominating performance on the mound, and the offense provided just enough runs to get past Edenton Post 40 3-1 Sunday night at Hicks Field and sweep the five-game series.
Wayne will face New Bern Post 24 in a best-of-five final for the right to go to Garner for the American Legion state tournament next month. The teams split the regular season series. Wayne won 10-6, and New Bern took the Area I East South Division regular season crown with an 8-3 victory.
Before being swept in the first round the past two seasons, Wayne appeared in the title series from 1994-97 and 1999-2004, winning six times.
Davis, a tall right-hander headed for UNC, threw seven innings, struck out eight and didn't walk anyone in running his record to 3-0. Only four balls made it out of the infield in the air. The defense played flawlessly in support.
Brandon Price went the last two innings, giving up a two-out home run to Kirk Wiggins before ending the game on a strikeout.
Edenton starter Hunter Meekins was also impressive, going eight innings and fanning seven.
Wayne got on the board with a pair in the fourth. Jay Rose had a leadoff single and stole second. One out later, Zack Wright hit a fly ball that got past the diving right-fielder for an RBI double. Thomas Pilkington followed with an opposite-field single inside the first base line for the second run.
The other run came in the sixth. John Wooten, who had three hits, singled to center and advanced on a bunt by Jay Rose. He moved to third on a grounder and scored on a wild pitch.
Wayne stranded a runner in scoring position in the last three innings.
Davis retired the first seven batters before hitNick Brown hit a groundball single to center. Derek Thomas got on base with a bad hop single to right, but Davis fanned the next batter to get out of trouble.
Davis, who threw 72 of his 103 pitches for strikes, went to three balls on one batter. Kirk Wiggins hit a high 3-1 fastball to center for a double to start the seventh. Davis set down the next three batters on a popup, a groundball and a strikeout.
Wayne......AB..R..H..BI.........Edenton...AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..4..0..0..0..............Thomas rf..4..0..1..0
Gourley ss..4..0..1..0..............Layton dh-c..4..0..0..0
Wooten 1b.. 4..1..3..0.............Beasley lf..4..0..2..0
Rose dh..3..1..1..0...................Westbrook cf..4..0..0..0
Edgerton lf..4..0..0..0.............Wiggins ss..4..1..3..1
Wright c..3..1..1..1....................Whitehead ..3..0..0..0
Ham c..0..0..0..0.....................Jordan 2b..3..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..3..0..1..1...........Brown c-p..3..0..1..0
Narron 2b..4..0..1..0................Brickhouse 1b..2..0..0..0
..................._______...............Swain 1b..1..0..0..0
.....................33...3...8...2.................................________
...........................................................................32...1....7...1
Wayne 000...201...000 - 3...8...0
Edenton 000...000...001 - 1...7...1
E-Wiggins.LOB-Wayne, Edenton.
2B-Wright, Wiggins. HR-Wiggins. SB-Rose. S-Rose, Lancaster.
Wayne....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO..NP
Davis (W)..7..6..0..0..0..8
Price.........2..1..1..1..0..2
Edenton
Meekins (L)..7..8..3..3..2..7
Brown...........2..0..0..0..0..2
WP-Meekins 2. PB-Brown.
EDENTON - Wayne County Post 11 is back in a familiar spot: the Area I East championship series.
Garrett Davis turned in another dominating performance on the mound, and the offense provided just enough runs to get past Edenton Post 40 3-1 Sunday night at Hicks Field and sweep the five-game series.
Wayne will face New Bern Post 24 in a best-of-five final for the right to go to Garner for the American Legion state tournament next month. The teams split the regular season series. Wayne won 10-6, and New Bern took the Area I East South Division regular season crown with an 8-3 victory.
Before being swept in the first round the past two seasons, Wayne appeared in the title series from 1994-97 and 1999-2004, winning six times.
Davis, a tall right-hander headed for UNC, threw seven innings, struck out eight and didn't walk anyone in running his record to 3-0. Only four balls made it out of the infield in the air. The defense played flawlessly in support.
Brandon Price went the last two innings, giving up a two-out home run to Kirk Wiggins before ending the game on a strikeout.
Edenton starter Hunter Meekins was also impressive, going eight innings and fanning seven.
Wayne got on the board with a pair in the fourth. Jay Rose had a leadoff single and stole second. One out later, Zack Wright hit a fly ball that got past the diving right-fielder for an RBI double. Thomas Pilkington followed with an opposite-field single inside the first base line for the second run.
The other run came in the sixth. John Wooten, who had three hits, singled to center and advanced on a bunt by Jay Rose. He moved to third on a grounder and scored on a wild pitch.
Wayne stranded a runner in scoring position in the last three innings.
Davis retired the first seven batters before hitNick Brown hit a groundball single to center. Derek Thomas got on base with a bad hop single to right, but Davis fanned the next batter to get out of trouble.
Davis, who threw 72 of his 103 pitches for strikes, went to three balls on one batter. Kirk Wiggins hit a high 3-1 fastball to center for a double to start the seventh. Davis set down the next three batters on a popup, a groundball and a strikeout.
Wayne......AB..R..H..BI.........Edenton...AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..4..0..0..0..............Thomas rf..4..0..1..0
Gourley ss..4..0..1..0..............Layton dh-c..4..0..0..0
Wooten 1b.. 4..1..3..0.............Beasley lf..4..0..2..0
Rose dh..3..1..1..0...................Westbrook cf..4..0..0..0
Edgerton lf..4..0..0..0.............Wiggins ss..4..1..3..1
Wright c..3..1..1..1....................Whitehead ..3..0..0..0
Ham c..0..0..0..0.....................Jordan 2b..3..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..3..0..1..1...........Brown c-p..3..0..1..0
Narron 2b..4..0..1..0................Brickhouse 1b..2..0..0..0
..................._______...............Swain 1b..1..0..0..0
.....................33...3...8...2.................................________
...........................................................................32...1....7...1
Wayne 000...201...000 - 3...8...0
Edenton 000...000...001 - 1...7...1
E-Wiggins.LOB-Wayne, Edenton.
2B-Wright, Wiggins. HR-Wiggins. SB-Rose. S-Rose, Lancaster.
Wayne....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO..NP
Davis (W)..7..6..0..0..0..8
Price.........2..1..1..1..0..2
Edenton
Meekins (L)..7..8..3..3..2..7
Brown...........2..0..0..0..0..2
WP-Meekins 2. PB-Brown.
e diel, 22 korrik 2007
21 Game Totals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVqRHllmUvwyCg
Stats include the second Edenton game.
Stats include the second Edenton game.
Edenton Game Stopped; Wayne Wins by Forfeit
Edenton - Talk about a bizarre way to win a baseball game.
Edenton Post 40 was on the verge of evening its Area I East semifinal playoff series with Wayne County Post 11 Saturday night at Hicks Field when an ejection in the seventh inning resulted in a forfeit against the home team and the visitors taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five match up.
Note: All records count, but there are no winning or losing pitchers.
The two teams will meet again in Edenton tonight at seven.
The unlikely chain of events that led to the end of the game began in the top of the inning. Wayne, trailing 3-1, put together three straight hits and a run, resulting in a pitching change. At the same time, Gabriel Brickhouse replaced Dusty Todd at second. That left Edenton without any substitutes.
In the home half, Edenton loaded the bases with one out. A fly ball to centerfielder Noah Lancaster led to a play at home. Lancaster's strong throw beat Brickhouse to the plate, and he put a shoulder into catcher Tyler Ham but failed to dislodge the ball. Legion rules forbid runners from inititating that type of contact, leading to the ejection.
And with that also went Edenton's hopes for a win. Teams must have nine players for the game to continue.
In the series openter, Edenton struggled offensively, getting five runners. Wayne wasn't much better in this game with eight.
Wayne, 17-4, got on the scoreboard first on a solo home run in the third by Jackson Massey. Edenton starter Landon Jordan retired 11 of the next 12 batters before the trouble in the seventh.
Wayne starter Taylor Bullard struggled with control problems throughout his six innings. On several occasions, he was saved by his defense. Wayne turned a doubled play in the first. In the second, leftfielder Will Edgerton played a Jordan's fly ball joff the wall perfectly to nail Judd Whitehead going to third. An inning later, he relayed another shot in left centerfield to shortstop Gourley, and the accurate throw home got Beasley.
But in the fourth, his good fortune ran out. He struck out the first two batters before walking Jordan. John Layton doubled to center to tie the game.
Edenton's Zack Beasley was on first with two out in the fifth when he moved to third on a wild pickoff throw . His feint toward home unnerved Bullard, causing a balk. An inning later, Tyler Swain followed a pair of two-out walks with a run-scoring double.
Wayne got hits from Lancaster, Ham and Thomas Pilkington to start the seventh and put the tying run at the plate. That resulted in Beasley coming to the mound.
Conner Narron's fly ball to shallow left centerfield was dropped but thrown to second for a force out. The next two batters struck out.
Wayne....AB..R..H..BI...........Edenton....AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..2..1..1..1...............Thomas rf..4..0..0..0
Gourley ss..4..0..0..0............Todd 2b..3..0..2..0
Davis dh..3..0..0..0................Brickhouse 2b..1..0..1..0
Wooten 1b..3..0..0..0.............Beasley lf-p..1..1..0..0
Edgerton lf..3..0..0..0............Westbrook cf..4..0..1..0
Lancaster cf..3..1..1..0...........Higgins ss-lf..3..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..3..0..2..1.........Whitehead 3b..4..0..1..0
Narron 2b..3..0..0..0..............Jordan p-ss..1..2..1..0
......................________........Swain 1b..3..0..1..1
........................26..2..5..2..............................________
.........................................................................25..3..8..2
Wayne 001...000...1 - 2...5...1
Edenton 000...111...0 - 3...8...0
E-Bullard. DP-Wayne 2. LOB-Wayne 6, edenton 7. 2B-Layton
HR-Massey. SB-Massey.
................IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Wayne
Bullard...6..7..3..2..5..6
Grice.....1..1..0..0..0..1
Edenton
Jordan...6..5..2..2..2..4
Beasley..1..0..0..0..0..2
BK-Bullard. HBP-Beasley (by Bullard), Massey (by Jordan), Beasley
(by Grice), Higgins (by Grice.)
Edenton Post 40 was on the verge of evening its Area I East semifinal playoff series with Wayne County Post 11 Saturday night at Hicks Field when an ejection in the seventh inning resulted in a forfeit against the home team and the visitors taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five match up.
Note: All records count, but there are no winning or losing pitchers.
The two teams will meet again in Edenton tonight at seven.
The unlikely chain of events that led to the end of the game began in the top of the inning. Wayne, trailing 3-1, put together three straight hits and a run, resulting in a pitching change. At the same time, Gabriel Brickhouse replaced Dusty Todd at second. That left Edenton without any substitutes.
In the home half, Edenton loaded the bases with one out. A fly ball to centerfielder Noah Lancaster led to a play at home. Lancaster's strong throw beat Brickhouse to the plate, and he put a shoulder into catcher Tyler Ham but failed to dislodge the ball. Legion rules forbid runners from inititating that type of contact, leading to the ejection.
And with that also went Edenton's hopes for a win. Teams must have nine players for the game to continue.
In the series openter, Edenton struggled offensively, getting five runners. Wayne wasn't much better in this game with eight.
Wayne, 17-4, got on the scoreboard first on a solo home run in the third by Jackson Massey. Edenton starter Landon Jordan retired 11 of the next 12 batters before the trouble in the seventh.
Wayne starter Taylor Bullard struggled with control problems throughout his six innings. On several occasions, he was saved by his defense. Wayne turned a doubled play in the first. In the second, leftfielder Will Edgerton played a Jordan's fly ball joff the wall perfectly to nail Judd Whitehead going to third. An inning later, he relayed another shot in left centerfield to shortstop Gourley, and the accurate throw home got Beasley.
But in the fourth, his good fortune ran out. He struck out the first two batters before walking Jordan. John Layton doubled to center to tie the game.
Edenton's Zack Beasley was on first with two out in the fifth when he moved to third on a wild pickoff throw . His feint toward home unnerved Bullard, causing a balk. An inning later, Tyler Swain followed a pair of two-out walks with a run-scoring double.
Wayne got hits from Lancaster, Ham and Thomas Pilkington to start the seventh and put the tying run at the plate. That resulted in Beasley coming to the mound.
Conner Narron's fly ball to shallow left centerfield was dropped but thrown to second for a force out. The next two batters struck out.
Wayne....AB..R..H..BI...........Edenton....AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..2..1..1..1...............Thomas rf..4..0..0..0
Gourley ss..4..0..0..0............Todd 2b..3..0..2..0
Davis dh..3..0..0..0................Brickhouse 2b..1..0..1..0
Wooten 1b..3..0..0..0.............Beasley lf-p..1..1..0..0
Edgerton lf..3..0..0..0............Westbrook cf..4..0..1..0
Lancaster cf..3..1..1..0...........Higgins ss-lf..3..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..3..0..2..1.........Whitehead 3b..4..0..1..0
Narron 2b..3..0..0..0..............Jordan p-ss..1..2..1..0
......................________........Swain 1b..3..0..1..1
........................26..2..5..2..............................________
.........................................................................25..3..8..2
Wayne 001...000...1 - 2...5...1
Edenton 000...111...0 - 3...8...0
E-Bullard. DP-Wayne 2. LOB-Wayne 6, edenton 7. 2B-Layton
HR-Massey. SB-Massey.
................IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Wayne
Bullard...6..7..3..2..5..6
Grice.....1..1..0..0..0..1
Edenton
Jordan...6..5..2..2..2..4
Beasley..1..0..0..0..0..2
BK-Bullard. HBP-Beasley (by Bullard), Massey (by Jordan), Beasley
(by Grice), Higgins (by Grice.)
e shtunë, 21 korrik 2007
20 Game Totals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVpd-Y-Kx__-Ug
Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy 24 hours. Ill try to add the box from Friday on Sunday morning.
Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy 24 hours. Ill try to add the box from Friday on Sunday morning.
e premte, 20 korrik 2007
Sasser Dominates Edenton
Wayne CountyPost 11 pitcher Grant Sasser's last two starts have been a study in contrasts. Against New Bern, in a game to decide the Area I East South Division regular season title, the left-hander was victimized by poor support and bad breaks. But it was a different story against Edenton Post 40 Friday night in the second round of the playoffs.
Sasser allowed three hits over seven innings and got generally solid defensive support as Wayne drew first blood in the best-of-five matchup with a 6-1 win at Mount Olive College. The next games will be played in Edenton over the weekend. Taylor Bullard will start Saturday night for Post 11.
"I thought he had better stuff against New Bern, but we played better behind him,"said Wayne coach Brad Reaves.
Brandon Price set the side down in order in the last two innings. Edenton managed only five runners while Wayne had 17.
Wayne did all its damage in the fourth with the aid of three errors. garrett reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on John wooten's blooper to center. After both advanced on steals, Jay Rose fell behind 0-2 before fouling off three pitches on his way to a walk.
Davis scored on Will Edgerton's hit to center, and Wooten followed when the ball was misplayed.Rose scored as Nolan Lancaster's grounder was being thrown away. Conner Narron singled to center on the first pitch for another run.
Jackson Massey doubled to center to make it 5-0, and Walker Gourley brought in the final run with another groundout.
Wayne didn't get a ball out of the infield the rest of the way after Massey's double. The last scoring threat came in the seventh when Post 11 loaded the bases with two out only to have the inning end on a strikeout.
Sasser didn't allow more than one runner in an inning until the seventh. Joseph westbrook doubled with one out, went to third on a fielding error and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Sasser allowed three hits over seven innings and got generally solid defensive support as Wayne drew first blood in the best-of-five matchup with a 6-1 win at Mount Olive College. The next games will be played in Edenton over the weekend. Taylor Bullard will start Saturday night for Post 11.
"I thought he had better stuff against New Bern, but we played better behind him,"said Wayne coach Brad Reaves.
Brandon Price set the side down in order in the last two innings. Edenton managed only five runners while Wayne had 17.
Wayne did all its damage in the fourth with the aid of three errors. garrett reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on John wooten's blooper to center. After both advanced on steals, Jay Rose fell behind 0-2 before fouling off three pitches on his way to a walk.
Davis scored on Will Edgerton's hit to center, and Wooten followed when the ball was misplayed.Rose scored as Nolan Lancaster's grounder was being thrown away. Conner Narron singled to center on the first pitch for another run.
Jackson Massey doubled to center to make it 5-0, and Walker Gourley brought in the final run with another groundout.
Wayne didn't get a ball out of the infield the rest of the way after Massey's double. The last scoring threat came in the seventh when Post 11 loaded the bases with two out only to have the inning end on a strikeout.
Sasser didn't allow more than one runner in an inning until the seventh. Joseph westbrook doubled with one out, went to third on a fielding error and scored on a sacrifice fly.
e enjte, 19 korrik 2007
19 Game Totals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVq7CmsSJ-gpbw
If the stats don't show, go to the archive. sometimes the blog acts funny.
If the stats don't show, go to the archive. sometimes the blog acts funny.
e mërkurë, 18 korrik 2007
Wayne Surges Past Rocky Mount
Here's a meaningless statistic for you: Rocky Mount Post 58 outhit Wayne County Post 11 9-8 in their Area I East first-round playoff game Wednesday night.
What's more important is that Wayne took advantage of a meltdown by Rocky Mount pitcher Tyler Johnson to roll into the second round with a 13-1 victory in eight innings at Rocky Mount Academy. Wayne is 85-7 in games decided by the ten-run rule.
Wayne (15-4) will face the winner of Thursday's Pitt County 39-Edenton game in a best-of-five series beginning Friday. Pitt County 160 defeated Wilson to force a third game.
"I think we will be hard to handle in a five-game series because we have nine arms that are very capable of getting the job done," said Wayne coach Brad Reaves. "We will go with Grant Sasser Friday, Garrett Davis Saturday, and Brandon Price or Taylor Bullard on Sunday, depending on the feel we get from whomever we play. T.J. Hinson should be ready again by Monday if we need him or we can use whomever we do not use on Sunday."
Post 11 had appeared in the league title series in nine of the past eleven years before being swept in the first round the past two seasons.
Wayne was clinging to a 2-1 lead in the sixth and appeared to be on its way to another quiet inning. But Davis was hit by a pitch on a 1-2 fastball with one out to signal a dramatic shift in the game. John Wooten followed with a single in the right centerfield gap. Will Edgerton walked to bring up Nolan Lancaster.
He took two pitches for balls, swung at one well out out the strike zone and watched a cueve for ball three before belting fastball to left centerfield for a home run to give Post 11 some breathing room. It was only the third hit allowed by Joyner.
Joyner, who threw 127 pitches, didn't make it out of the seventh inning. He hit two more batters, then had two runs score on a bases loaded throwing error with two out. Thomas Pilkington made sure that miscue was an even more expensive one when he doubled home two more runs againsrt reliever Dillon Cockrell.
Wayne continued to get things done with three more runs in the eighth. Jackson Massey started things with a single and was safe at second on a dropped throw on Walker Gourley's grounder. Davis, who had been hit by a pitch twice, lined an 0-1 fastball over the fence in right to cap the rout.
Hinson provided Wayne with another solid job on the mound. He went six innings, allowing seven hits, but he never allowd the opposition to put together a big inning. Rocky Mount's only run came in the first with the aid of an error on a bunt.
"That's exactly what he did,' said Reaves. "He threw strikes and made big pitches when he needed to. Mature pitchers do that, and TJ has matured alot since last year."
Joyner started the game as if he wasn't going to be around long. He walked Jackson Massey and Walker Gourley before settling down to fan Davis. Massey reached third on an errant pickoff throw and scored on Wooten's grounder. Gourley came in on a two-out passed ball on a strikeout.
Edgerton's liner to center was the only ball hit out of the infield in the first five innings.
"He carved us up early," Reaves said of Joyner. "I think he lost his composure. He tried to do to much instead of allowing his fielders to help him out. There is a time for strikeouts but mature pitchers depend on their defense to help them out of jams."
Wayne ......AB..R..H..BI............Rocky Mount...AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..3..2..2..0..................Moore cf..4..1..1..0
Gourley ss..4..3..0..0.................Webb ss..3..0..2..0
Davis dh..3..2..1..3.....................Macklin rf..3..0..2..1
Wooten..1b5..2..2..1...................Cockrell 3b-p..4..0..1..0
Edgerton lf..3..2..0..0................ Hodges p..0..0..0..0
Lancaster cf..2.2..1..4.................Berry dh-3b 3..0..0..0
Casey cf..1..0..0..0......................Pearce 3..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..3..0..1..2..............Womble 1b..4..0..1..0
Ham c..........4..0..1..0..................Johnson lf..3..0..1..0
Narron 2b..4..0..0..0....................................________
..................................._______.....................30..1..9..1
....................................32..13..8..10
Wayne....200...004...43 -13...8...1
RM..........100...000...00 - 1...9...3
E-Joyner, Hinson, Cockrell, Allen. DP-Wayne 1. LOB Wayne 5, RM 11.
2B-Pilkington. HR-Lancaster, Davis. SB-Massey, Gourley. CS-Edgerton,
Ham. S-Webb, Johnson. SF-Macklin.
Wayne......IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO..NP
Hinson (W) 6..7..1..0..1..5...76
Rose.............1..2..0..0..0..1...25
Bullard.........1..0..0..0..1..3...22
RM
Joyner (L)...6 2/3..4..10..7..5..6...129
Cockrell...........2/3..4..3..2..0..1...27
Hodges.............2/3....0..0..0..0..1...5
WP-Rose. PB-Pearce. HBP-Lancaster (by Taylor), Davis (by Taylor),
Davis (by Taylor), Lancaster (by Taylor), Edgerton (by Taylor).
What's more important is that Wayne took advantage of a meltdown by Rocky Mount pitcher Tyler Johnson to roll into the second round with a 13-1 victory in eight innings at Rocky Mount Academy. Wayne is 85-7 in games decided by the ten-run rule.
Wayne (15-4) will face the winner of Thursday's Pitt County 39-Edenton game in a best-of-five series beginning Friday. Pitt County 160 defeated Wilson to force a third game.
"I think we will be hard to handle in a five-game series because we have nine arms that are very capable of getting the job done," said Wayne coach Brad Reaves. "We will go with Grant Sasser Friday, Garrett Davis Saturday, and Brandon Price or Taylor Bullard on Sunday, depending on the feel we get from whomever we play. T.J. Hinson should be ready again by Monday if we need him or we can use whomever we do not use on Sunday."
Post 11 had appeared in the league title series in nine of the past eleven years before being swept in the first round the past two seasons.
Wayne was clinging to a 2-1 lead in the sixth and appeared to be on its way to another quiet inning. But Davis was hit by a pitch on a 1-2 fastball with one out to signal a dramatic shift in the game. John Wooten followed with a single in the right centerfield gap. Will Edgerton walked to bring up Nolan Lancaster.
He took two pitches for balls, swung at one well out out the strike zone and watched a cueve for ball three before belting fastball to left centerfield for a home run to give Post 11 some breathing room. It was only the third hit allowed by Joyner.
Joyner, who threw 127 pitches, didn't make it out of the seventh inning. He hit two more batters, then had two runs score on a bases loaded throwing error with two out. Thomas Pilkington made sure that miscue was an even more expensive one when he doubled home two more runs againsrt reliever Dillon Cockrell.
Wayne continued to get things done with three more runs in the eighth. Jackson Massey started things with a single and was safe at second on a dropped throw on Walker Gourley's grounder. Davis, who had been hit by a pitch twice, lined an 0-1 fastball over the fence in right to cap the rout.
Hinson provided Wayne with another solid job on the mound. He went six innings, allowing seven hits, but he never allowd the opposition to put together a big inning. Rocky Mount's only run came in the first with the aid of an error on a bunt.
"That's exactly what he did,' said Reaves. "He threw strikes and made big pitches when he needed to. Mature pitchers do that, and TJ has matured alot since last year."
Joyner started the game as if he wasn't going to be around long. He walked Jackson Massey and Walker Gourley before settling down to fan Davis. Massey reached third on an errant pickoff throw and scored on Wooten's grounder. Gourley came in on a two-out passed ball on a strikeout.
Edgerton's liner to center was the only ball hit out of the infield in the first five innings.
"He carved us up early," Reaves said of Joyner. "I think he lost his composure. He tried to do to much instead of allowing his fielders to help him out. There is a time for strikeouts but mature pitchers depend on their defense to help them out of jams."
Wayne ......AB..R..H..BI............Rocky Mount...AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..3..2..2..0..................Moore cf..4..1..1..0
Gourley ss..4..3..0..0.................Webb ss..3..0..2..0
Davis dh..3..2..1..3.....................Macklin rf..3..0..2..1
Wooten..1b5..2..2..1...................Cockrell 3b-p..4..0..1..0
Edgerton lf..3..2..0..0................ Hodges p..0..0..0..0
Lancaster cf..2.2..1..4.................Berry dh-3b 3..0..0..0
Casey cf..1..0..0..0......................Pearce 3..0..0..0
Pilkington 3b..3..0..1..2..............Womble 1b..4..0..1..0
Ham c..........4..0..1..0..................Johnson lf..3..0..1..0
Narron 2b..4..0..0..0....................................________
..................................._______.....................30..1..9..1
....................................32..13..8..10
Wayne....200...004...43 -13...8...1
RM..........100...000...00 - 1...9...3
E-Joyner, Hinson, Cockrell, Allen. DP-Wayne 1. LOB Wayne 5, RM 11.
2B-Pilkington. HR-Lancaster, Davis. SB-Massey, Gourley. CS-Edgerton,
Ham. S-Webb, Johnson. SF-Macklin.
Wayne......IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO..NP
Hinson (W) 6..7..1..0..1..5...76
Rose.............1..2..0..0..0..1...25
Bullard.........1..0..0..0..1..3...22
RM
Joyner (L)...6 2/3..4..10..7..5..6...129
Cockrell...........2/3..4..3..2..0..1...27
Hodges.............2/3....0..0..0..0..1...5
WP-Rose. PB-Pearce. HBP-Lancaster (by Taylor), Davis (by Taylor),
Davis (by Taylor), Lancaster (by Taylor), Edgerton (by Taylor).
e martë, 17 korrik 2007
18 Game Totals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVVdFvniLbVp7gp2YqZaRHg
It's 2 a.m. and as Mick Jagger sang, "People want to go to bed."
It's 2 a.m. and as Mick Jagger sang, "People want to go to bed."
e hënë, 16 korrik 2007
Wayne Wins First Playoff Game Since 2004
The American Legion playoffs -aka the second season - are here and, unlike the past two years, Wayne County Post 11 got this one started in a positive fashion.
Garrett Davis turned in his usual spectacular performance on the mound and did more damage with his bat as Wayne drew first blood in its best-of-three playoff series with Rocky Mount Post 58 Monday night with a 5-1 win at Mount Olive College.
Tonight's game will be played at Rocky Mount Academy. T.J. Hinson will start on the mound for Post 11.
Wayne coach Brad Reaves had planned to start Davis in the second game but decided to switch because of the possibility of bad weather all week. The team that wins the first game wins the series if the other team wins game two but the series is not finished.
Davis was making his first start after five relief appearances totaling nine innings. He went six innings, striking out 11 while walking two and allowing four hits.
He also provided Wayne with much needed firepower at the plate in the form of a home run and a triple.
Neither team took full advantage of its opportunities. Wayne had 18 runners and Rocky Mount 12.
Post 11 had two big innings. In the three-run third, Nolan Lancaster walked but was caught stealing. Chad Gurley fell behind 1-2 before walking. Jackson Massey then hit a 3-2 fastball to left and wound up at third after the fielder failed on a diving attempt to catch the liner.
He scored on Walker Gourley's grounder. Rocky Mount starter Zach Woodley fell behind Davis 2-0 and served up a fastball that cleared the right field fence in a hurry.
The runners continued for Wayne over the next two innings but without any runs to show for it as the team stranded seven.
Davis left after having thrown 89 pitches. It was then up to Massey to hold the lead. He didn't get off to a good start. Leadoff batter Adam Hodges reached on a single and later scored on a two-out error. But Massey picked off that runner to end the inning.
Wayne came back to give Massey some breathing room in the home half. Davis tripled with one out, and John Wooten walked. Jay Rose's grounder was bobbled as the second baseman attempted to throw to second. Will Edgerton bunted his way on base, and Zack Wright was hit by a pitch to force in a run. But again, the promise of a bigger inning fizzled as the next two batters struck out.
Rocky Mount had its own frustrating inning in the eighth. Andrew Webb drew a leadoff walk, and Brian Allen singled to left to put Rocky Mount in a position to rally. But Massey was again up to the task, as he struck out the next batter on three pitches and got the other two outs on popups.
Rocky Mount...AB..R..H..BI.........Wayne............AB..R..H..BI
Moore cf..........4..0..0..0................Massey rf-p..4..1..1..1
Webb ss...........2..0..1..0................Gourley ss......5..0..0..1
Macklin rf........4..0..0..0...............Davis p-rf.......5..2..3..2
Womble 1b......4..0..0..0................Wooten 3b.....2..1..0..0
Berry 3b...........4..0..0..0...............Rose 1b...........2..0..0..1
Hodges dh-2b..3..1..1..0................Edgerton lf.....4..0..2..0
Pearce c............4..0..1..0................Lancaster cf...3..0..1..0
Cockrell lf..........4..0..2..0...............Gurley 2b.......3..1..0..0
..........................._______....................................._______
............................31...1...7...0..................................31...5...8...5
RM.........000..000..100 - 1..7..2
Wayne...003...000..10X - 5..8..1
E-Webb, Rose,Hodges. DP-RM 1, Wayne 1. 3B-Massey, Davis.
HR-Davis. SB-Gurley. CS-Lancaster, Massey, Moore. S-Allen.
RM.................IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO..NP
Woodley (L).....6...6...3...3...5...5...109
Allen..................2...2..2..1..1..3...33
Wayne
Davis (W)..........6...4...0...0...2...11...89
Massey...............3...3...1...1...1...2...46
WP-Massey, PB-Pearce, Wright. HBP-Webb (by Davis), Wright (by Allen), Massey,
(by Allen),
Garrett Davis turned in his usual spectacular performance on the mound and did more damage with his bat as Wayne drew first blood in its best-of-three playoff series with Rocky Mount Post 58 Monday night with a 5-1 win at Mount Olive College.
Tonight's game will be played at Rocky Mount Academy. T.J. Hinson will start on the mound for Post 11.
Wayne coach Brad Reaves had planned to start Davis in the second game but decided to switch because of the possibility of bad weather all week. The team that wins the first game wins the series if the other team wins game two but the series is not finished.
Davis was making his first start after five relief appearances totaling nine innings. He went six innings, striking out 11 while walking two and allowing four hits.
He also provided Wayne with much needed firepower at the plate in the form of a home run and a triple.
Neither team took full advantage of its opportunities. Wayne had 18 runners and Rocky Mount 12.
Post 11 had two big innings. In the three-run third, Nolan Lancaster walked but was caught stealing. Chad Gurley fell behind 1-2 before walking. Jackson Massey then hit a 3-2 fastball to left and wound up at third after the fielder failed on a diving attempt to catch the liner.
He scored on Walker Gourley's grounder. Rocky Mount starter Zach Woodley fell behind Davis 2-0 and served up a fastball that cleared the right field fence in a hurry.
The runners continued for Wayne over the next two innings but without any runs to show for it as the team stranded seven.
Davis left after having thrown 89 pitches. It was then up to Massey to hold the lead. He didn't get off to a good start. Leadoff batter Adam Hodges reached on a single and later scored on a two-out error. But Massey picked off that runner to end the inning.
Wayne came back to give Massey some breathing room in the home half. Davis tripled with one out, and John Wooten walked. Jay Rose's grounder was bobbled as the second baseman attempted to throw to second. Will Edgerton bunted his way on base, and Zack Wright was hit by a pitch to force in a run. But again, the promise of a bigger inning fizzled as the next two batters struck out.
Rocky Mount had its own frustrating inning in the eighth. Andrew Webb drew a leadoff walk, and Brian Allen singled to left to put Rocky Mount in a position to rally. But Massey was again up to the task, as he struck out the next batter on three pitches and got the other two outs on popups.
Rocky Mount...AB..R..H..BI.........Wayne............AB..R..H..BI
Moore cf..........4..0..0..0................Massey rf-p..4..1..1..1
Webb ss...........2..0..1..0................Gourley ss......5..0..0..1
Macklin rf........4..0..0..0...............Davis p-rf.......5..2..3..2
Womble 1b......4..0..0..0................Wooten 3b.....2..1..0..0
Berry 3b...........4..0..0..0...............Rose 1b...........2..0..0..1
Hodges dh-2b..3..1..1..0................Edgerton lf.....4..0..2..0
Pearce c............4..0..1..0................Lancaster cf...3..0..1..0
Cockrell lf..........4..0..2..0...............Gurley 2b.......3..1..0..0
..........................._______....................................._______
............................31...1...7...0..................................31...5...8...5
RM.........000..000..100 - 1..7..2
Wayne...003...000..10X - 5..8..1
E-Webb, Rose,Hodges. DP-RM 1, Wayne 1. 3B-Massey, Davis.
HR-Davis. SB-Gurley. CS-Lancaster, Massey, Moore. S-Allen.
RM.................IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO..NP
Woodley (L).....6...6...3...3...5...5...109
Allen..................2...2..2..1..1..3...33
Wayne
Davis (W)..........6...4...0...0...2...11...89
Massey...............3...3...1...1...1...2...46
WP-Massey, PB-Pearce, Wright. HBP-Webb (by Davis), Wright (by Allen), Massey,
(by Allen),
First Round Results
Cary Post 7 - Apex 6 Cary scores two in the 8th after trailing 5-0
Durham 13 - Benson 3 in seven innings.
Edenton 11 - Pitt County 3
Wayne County 5 - Rocky Mount 1
New Bern 6 Beaufort County 4 One out in the bottom of the 6th when the game was called.
Wilson defeated Pitt County Post 160 9-2 on Monday. Matthew Watson (6-2) pitched eight innings (101 pitches), giving up six hits, striking out seven and walking two. He retired the final 11 batters he faced. Bradley Taylor hit a 3-run HR as Wilson opened an 8-2 lead after three innings. Post 160's Spencer Fagan matched Wilson's Watson the rest of the way. (Courtesy of ncpreps.com)
Durham 13 - Benson 3 in seven innings.
Edenton 11 - Pitt County 3
Wayne County 5 - Rocky Mount 1
New Bern 6 Beaufort County 4 One out in the bottom of the 6th when the game was called.
Wilson defeated Pitt County Post 160 9-2 on Monday. Matthew Watson (6-2) pitched eight innings (101 pitches), giving up six hits, striking out seven and walking two. He retired the final 11 batters he faced. Bradley Taylor hit a 3-run HR as Wilson opened an 8-2 lead after three innings. Post 160's Spencer Fagan matched Wilson's Watson the rest of the way. (Courtesy of ncpreps.com)
e diel, 15 korrik 2007
Pitch Counts and Strike Percentage
I started tracking pitches thrown in 2003, though I have charts well into the 90's. Here are some numbers:
..............Strike Pct......Pitches/Inning
2003... 60.6...................15.7 (18-5)
2004... 62.8...................15.5 (28-9)
2005... 63.6...................15.4 (17-10)
2006... 62.2...................16.9 (12-12)
2007... 60.2...................15.8 (13-4)
I might see if I can find some numbers on some of our standout performers of the past 15 years.
..............Strike Pct......Pitches/Inning
2003... 60.6...................15.7 (18-5)
2004... 62.8...................15.5 (28-9)
2005... 63.6...................15.4 (17-10)
2006... 62.2...................16.9 (12-12)
2007... 60.2...................15.8 (13-4)
I might see if I can find some numbers on some of our standout performers of the past 15 years.
New Bern Cruises to Division Title
A week ago, Wayne County Post 11 was on the verge of taking first place in the Area I East South Division and claiming homefield advantage throughout the league playoffs. But that's no longer the case, and the team finds itself with the very real possibility of having a promising season cut short with a first-round exit.
Keith Spinner held Post 11 to six hits and struck out 12 in going the distance as New Bern POst 24 emphatically clinched first place in the division standings 8-3 Saturday night at New Bern High School. New Bern (8-2) will face the North Division's fourth place team, Beaufort County, while Wayne (6-4, 13-4) will take on Nash County in best-of-three series beginning Monday. Other pairings are Edenton vs. Pitt 39 and Wilson vs. Pitt 160.
T.J. HInson (4-2, 2.16) will get the start Monday and Garrett Davis (19 strikeouts in nine innings) will be on the mound in the road game.
Spinner didn't exactly blow the Post 11 batters away, but he did what he had to do in effectively mixing his pitches and keeping his opponents off balance. He never gave up the big hit, as Post 11 left seven runners in scoring position. He threw 147 pitches.
Wayne starter Grant Sasser was impressive in the early going. He struck out the side in the second and appeared to be cruising to another easy inning in the third. But how quickly things changed.
He fanned the first two batters, but the second one, Anthony Holloway, reached on a passed ball. He stole second and went to third on a soft single to center by Sam Sanders. Of New Bern's 11 hits, only three left the infield in the air.
A stolen base and and another passed ball produced the first run. Mark Hardeman followed a walk with a chopper that bounced over the head of the first baseman to right for an RBI single. Brett Williams singled through the right side of the infield on a 1-2 breaking pitch for another run. James Varner's grounder was misplayed as the fourth run came home.
Will Edgerton got one run back in the fourth. He singled to left, advanced on a grounder, stole third and scored on the bad throw. Zack Wright doubled with one out but was left there.
New Bern reclaimed that run in the home half after Holloway was plunked by a 1-2 fastball and later scored on the second of Hardeman's four hits.
New Bern's next two runs came in the sixth. Austin Zehr walked and Holloway reached on an infield hit. Zehr took third on a pickoff throw from the catcher, and Holloway stole second. They scored on a sacrifice fly and another Hardeman hit for a 7-1 lead.
Wayne was now in desperate straits, but positioned itself for a big rally in the seventh, only to fail to come through with the big hit. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out, and a repeat of the big comeback at Pitt 160 was a possibbility. But all Post 11 got from it was an RBI groundout by John Wooten.
The eighth was more of the same. Edgerton doubled to center. One out later, Wright struck out but reached on a passed ball. Nolan Lancaster came through with a pinch-hit RBI single, but Spinner retired the next two batters to end Wayne's last threat.
Sasser went five innings, allowed five hits and struck out seven.
Keith Spinner held Post 11 to six hits and struck out 12 in going the distance as New Bern POst 24 emphatically clinched first place in the division standings 8-3 Saturday night at New Bern High School. New Bern (8-2) will face the North Division's fourth place team, Beaufort County, while Wayne (6-4, 13-4) will take on Nash County in best-of-three series beginning Monday. Other pairings are Edenton vs. Pitt 39 and Wilson vs. Pitt 160.
T.J. HInson (4-2, 2.16) will get the start Monday and Garrett Davis (19 strikeouts in nine innings) will be on the mound in the road game.
Spinner didn't exactly blow the Post 11 batters away, but he did what he had to do in effectively mixing his pitches and keeping his opponents off balance. He never gave up the big hit, as Post 11 left seven runners in scoring position. He threw 147 pitches.
Wayne starter Grant Sasser was impressive in the early going. He struck out the side in the second and appeared to be cruising to another easy inning in the third. But how quickly things changed.
He fanned the first two batters, but the second one, Anthony Holloway, reached on a passed ball. He stole second and went to third on a soft single to center by Sam Sanders. Of New Bern's 11 hits, only three left the infield in the air.
A stolen base and and another passed ball produced the first run. Mark Hardeman followed a walk with a chopper that bounced over the head of the first baseman to right for an RBI single. Brett Williams singled through the right side of the infield on a 1-2 breaking pitch for another run. James Varner's grounder was misplayed as the fourth run came home.
Will Edgerton got one run back in the fourth. He singled to left, advanced on a grounder, stole third and scored on the bad throw. Zack Wright doubled with one out but was left there.
New Bern reclaimed that run in the home half after Holloway was plunked by a 1-2 fastball and later scored on the second of Hardeman's four hits.
New Bern's next two runs came in the sixth. Austin Zehr walked and Holloway reached on an infield hit. Zehr took third on a pickoff throw from the catcher, and Holloway stole second. They scored on a sacrifice fly and another Hardeman hit for a 7-1 lead.
Wayne was now in desperate straits, but positioned itself for a big rally in the seventh, only to fail to come through with the big hit. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out, and a repeat of the big comeback at Pitt 160 was a possibbility. But all Post 11 got from it was an RBI groundout by John Wooten.
The eighth was more of the same. Edgerton doubled to center. One out later, Wright struck out but reached on a passed ball. Nolan Lancaster came through with a pinch-hit RBI single, but Spinner retired the next two batters to end Wayne's last threat.
Sasser went five innings, allowed five hits and struck out seven.
e premte, 13 korrik 2007
Wayne Loses in Last Inning
Wayne County didn't have anything on the line last night at South Central High School against Pitt County Post 160, but that doesn't mean the outcome will be less difficult to take.
After staging an improbable comeback on the strength of three home runs, Post 11 saw it all go for naught as Pitt rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth for a gut-wrenching 10-9 win in an Area I East South Division struggle.
Wayne (6-3, 13-3) will travel to New Bern tonight with the division title at stake while Pitt will face Snow Hill in a game to determine which team gets the final berth in the playoffs. If Post 160 wins, it will tie Pitt Post 39 for third but will win the tiebreaker due to sweeping the regular season series.
Post 11 trailed 7-2 after four innings but fought back to take the lead 9-7 going into the last of the ninth. T.J. Hinson had relieved starter Brandon Price and seemed in control after retiring the last eight batters he faced. Garrett Davis was waiting in the wings but didn't seem to be needed.
And then it all went downhill fast.
Hinson hit leadoff batter Billy Walling on the first pitch, and a lack of communication between the outfielders allowed Gavin Mizelle's fly ball to right center to fall in for a double. Just like that, Pitt was in business.
A wild pitch scored Walling and brought the tying run 90 feet from home plate. This was while Davis was in the bullpen trying to ready to save what looked to be a safe lead.
Hinson got Brian Avery to hit a grounder, and Wayne conceded the run for an out. But the throw to first was wild, and the visitors were faced with the winning run at second. A single to left by Tim Conrad finished Hinson, put runners on the corners and left Davis with the task of getting out of a near impossible situation.
The lanky righthander nearly pulled it off. He fanned Josh Worthington on a 3-2 breaking pitch, then intentionally walked Kramer Sneed to load the bases. Another curve sent Spencer Fagan back to the dugout on a 1-2 pitch.
Davis then went ahead of Logan Hessert 0-1 before a breaking ball in the dirt went to the screen, sending Avery home and Wayne out of town with an unlikely defeat.
Price entered the game sporting a 2-0 record and a 1.23 earned run average, but it was clear early that he was not at the top of his game. He left in the third after allowing 10 hits and with Pitt leading 7-2. Worthington put the finishing touch on Price's night by hitting a first-pitch fastball over the left field fence for a three-run homer. Price gave up 10 hits and didn't strike out anyone. Three of the runs were unearned.
Wayne slowly but surely began solving Pitt starter Fagan's assortment of pitches. Walker Gourley, who had four hits, singled to start the fifth and advanced on a grounder. After a walk, two runs scored during a force play and a poor relay throw to first.
Wayne got within one an inning later on a two-out single by Jackson Massey and Gourley's homer to left centerfield.
The lead switched hands in the eighth. First, Zack Wright belted a fastball over the left field fence to tie it. Massey singled, stole second and later scored on a two-out error.
Will Edgerton gave Wayne some breathing room in the ninth with a home run to left, and that seemed to be more than enough the way Hinson was throwing. But then came the improbable ending.
Pitt had 15 hits to 14 for Wayne. Hessert had a two-run single in the second.
Wayne AB..R..H..BI Pitt 160 AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..5..2..2..0...........Sneed cf..5..2..1..0
Gourley ss..6..4..4..2..........Fagan p-lf..4..1..1..1
Davis..dh-p..4..1..2..0.........Hessert 5..0..3..2
Rose 1b..5..0..2..2...............Sharpe 3b-p..5..0..2..1
Pilkington 3b..4..0..0..0.....Rasberry p..0..0..0..0
Edgerton lf..4..1..1..2..........Walling lf-3b..3.1..2..0
Lancaster cf..5..0..1..0........Mizelle ss..5..1..1..0
Wright c..4..1..2..1...............Avery 1b..5..2..1..1
Gurley 2b..2..0..0..0...........Conrad rf..5..2..3..0
Narron 2b..3..0..0..0..........Worthington c..5..1..1..3
..................._________..........................________
.....................42..9..14..7............................42..10..15..8
Wayne 101...022...021 - 9..14..3
Pitt 160 133...000...003 - 10..15..4
E-Sharpe, Gurley, Gourley 2, Hessert, Walling 2. DP-Pitt 2.
LOB-Wayne 11, Pitt 11.
2B-Gourley, Rose, Wright, Hessert, Mizelle. HR-Worthington, Gourley,. Wright,
Edgerton. SB-Massey, Rose, Davis. S-Fagan.
Wayne....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Price......2 1/3..10..7..4..1..0
Hinson...(L)5 1/3..5..3..2..0..6
Davis........2/3..0..0..0..1..2
Pitt
Fagan........6..11..6..5..1..1
Sharpe......2 2/3..3..3..2..3..1
Rasberry (W)..1/3..0..0..0..0..1
WP-Sharpe, Hinson, Davis. HBP-Walling (by Hinson), Walling (by Hinson),
Wright (by Sharpe).
After staging an improbable comeback on the strength of three home runs, Post 11 saw it all go for naught as Pitt rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth for a gut-wrenching 10-9 win in an Area I East South Division struggle.
Wayne (6-3, 13-3) will travel to New Bern tonight with the division title at stake while Pitt will face Snow Hill in a game to determine which team gets the final berth in the playoffs. If Post 160 wins, it will tie Pitt Post 39 for third but will win the tiebreaker due to sweeping the regular season series.
Post 11 trailed 7-2 after four innings but fought back to take the lead 9-7 going into the last of the ninth. T.J. Hinson had relieved starter Brandon Price and seemed in control after retiring the last eight batters he faced. Garrett Davis was waiting in the wings but didn't seem to be needed.
And then it all went downhill fast.
Hinson hit leadoff batter Billy Walling on the first pitch, and a lack of communication between the outfielders allowed Gavin Mizelle's fly ball to right center to fall in for a double. Just like that, Pitt was in business.
A wild pitch scored Walling and brought the tying run 90 feet from home plate. This was while Davis was in the bullpen trying to ready to save what looked to be a safe lead.
Hinson got Brian Avery to hit a grounder, and Wayne conceded the run for an out. But the throw to first was wild, and the visitors were faced with the winning run at second. A single to left by Tim Conrad finished Hinson, put runners on the corners and left Davis with the task of getting out of a near impossible situation.
The lanky righthander nearly pulled it off. He fanned Josh Worthington on a 3-2 breaking pitch, then intentionally walked Kramer Sneed to load the bases. Another curve sent Spencer Fagan back to the dugout on a 1-2 pitch.
Davis then went ahead of Logan Hessert 0-1 before a breaking ball in the dirt went to the screen, sending Avery home and Wayne out of town with an unlikely defeat.
Price entered the game sporting a 2-0 record and a 1.23 earned run average, but it was clear early that he was not at the top of his game. He left in the third after allowing 10 hits and with Pitt leading 7-2. Worthington put the finishing touch on Price's night by hitting a first-pitch fastball over the left field fence for a three-run homer. Price gave up 10 hits and didn't strike out anyone. Three of the runs were unearned.
Wayne slowly but surely began solving Pitt starter Fagan's assortment of pitches. Walker Gourley, who had four hits, singled to start the fifth and advanced on a grounder. After a walk, two runs scored during a force play and a poor relay throw to first.
Wayne got within one an inning later on a two-out single by Jackson Massey and Gourley's homer to left centerfield.
The lead switched hands in the eighth. First, Zack Wright belted a fastball over the left field fence to tie it. Massey singled, stole second and later scored on a two-out error.
Will Edgerton gave Wayne some breathing room in the ninth with a home run to left, and that seemed to be more than enough the way Hinson was throwing. But then came the improbable ending.
Pitt had 15 hits to 14 for Wayne. Hessert had a two-run single in the second.
Wayne AB..R..H..BI Pitt 160 AB..R..H..BI
Massey rf..5..2..2..0...........Sneed cf..5..2..1..0
Gourley ss..6..4..4..2..........Fagan p-lf..4..1..1..1
Davis..dh-p..4..1..2..0.........Hessert 5..0..3..2
Rose 1b..5..0..2..2...............Sharpe 3b-p..5..0..2..1
Pilkington 3b..4..0..0..0.....Rasberry p..0..0..0..0
Edgerton lf..4..1..1..2..........Walling lf-3b..3.1..2..0
Lancaster cf..5..0..1..0........Mizelle ss..5..1..1..0
Wright c..4..1..2..1...............Avery 1b..5..2..1..1
Gurley 2b..2..0..0..0...........Conrad rf..5..2..3..0
Narron 2b..3..0..0..0..........Worthington c..5..1..1..3
..................._________..........................________
.....................42..9..14..7............................42..10..15..8
Wayne 101...022...021 - 9..14..3
Pitt 160 133...000...003 - 10..15..4
E-Sharpe, Gurley, Gourley 2, Hessert, Walling 2. DP-Pitt 2.
LOB-Wayne 11, Pitt 11.
2B-Gourley, Rose, Wright, Hessert, Mizelle. HR-Worthington, Gourley,. Wright,
Edgerton. SB-Massey, Rose, Davis. S-Fagan.
Wayne....IP..H..R..ER..BB..SO
Price......2 1/3..10..7..4..1..0
Hinson...(L)5 1/3..5..3..2..0..6
Davis........2/3..0..0..0..1..2
Pitt
Fagan........6..11..6..5..1..1
Sharpe......2 2/3..3..3..2..3..1
Rasberry (W)..1/3..0..0..0..0..1
WP-Sharpe, Hinson, Davis. HBP-Walling (by Hinson), Walling (by Hinson),
Wright (by Sharpe).
Abonohu te:
Postimet (Atom)