Wayne Takes Wild Opener

Note: Box score is here

Note 2: The idiot who runs this blog has fixed the links. Hey, I'm still learning.

Post 11 catcher Zack Wright didn't come through in his first two plate appearances with runners in scoring position against Durham Post 7 Tuesday night at Riverside High School in Wayne County's American Legion opener. But he more than made up for it in his next three chances.

Wright had three hits, including a tape measure home run in the eighth, and drove in six runs as Wayne rallied for an 11-8 win against its Area I West opponent. Wayne will play Benson Saturday night at South Johnston High School at seven.

The 2007 state runnerup probably will need plenty of big nights from its offense considering the massive losses it suffered on the pitching staff. Wayne hurlers threw 280 innings last season en route to a 27-6 mark, but only 28 1/3 of those innings return.

The good news is that coach Brad Reaves got a couple of solid performances from his young staff. Post 11 starter Eric DuBose left the game in the second with an injury, and Michael Douglass stepped in to allow four hits and two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

But the most impressive mound work of the evening belonged to Adron Hollowell. Wayne went into the bottom of the eighth with a four-run cushion at 9-5 but saw it quickly evaporate as Durham took advantage of a two-out error by pitcher Taylor Allen to string together three straight hits and cut the lead to one.

Hollowell entered the game with runners on first and second and fanned David Prince on a called third strike to get Wayne out of the jam.

Post 11 got some breathing room in the ninth. John Wooton drew a leadoff walk to go along with his two hits. Wright took the stage one more time and delivered in a big way by crushing a fastball and sending it far over the center field fence.

That was more than enough for Hollowell and his baffling assortment of pitches. He struck out the side in the ninth, and only an error allowed a Post 7 batter to reach base. In fact, Levi Diala was the only batter to make contact against Hollowell.

Wright batted in the first with runners on second and third but grounded out to end the inning. In the third, he flied out with two in scoring position.

The turnaround came in the fifth when he followed a two out double by Wooten with a double down the third base line to tie the game at three.

Wayne went ahead for good with five runs in the sixth, and Wright again was instrumental. Cambric Moye homered to left on a 2-0 fastball with one out. Alex Casey singled to bring about a pitching change. Brian Backus proceeded to walk the next three batters, including Wooten on a full count. Wright hit the first pitch to right to clear the bases and give Post 11 an 8-3 lead.

Casey started the eighth with an infield hit, stole second, moved to third on a bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Edwards.

Calendar for the season.