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).