No Problems for Wayne in Playoff Opener

Box is here. Stats later today.

Wayne County coach Brad Reaves wanted to let the Area I East opposition know that his team would be a forced to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

Consider the message sent.

Post 11 left no doubt as to the superior team as it crushed outmanned Edgecombe County Post 316 18-2 Thursday night at Southern Wayne High School in the first game of their best-of-three series. The second game will be played tonight in Tarboro at the Indian Lake Sports Complex.

In other action, Pitt County Post 39 defeated Wilson 5-4 at Fleming Stadium. Kinston blanked Edenton 8-0.

"I told them, 'Guys, they don't play (the games) in the papers. We got the top seed, and let's send a message why we got the top seed.' They pretty much responded. If we play like this, we'll be hard to beat."

Wayne failed to score in the first inning but got rolling after that and brought home all but eight of it runners. Meanwhile, starter Adron Hollowell allowed two hits, back-to-back home runs, and a walk in five innings. "Adron didn't have his best stuff," said Reaves, "but he gave us five strong innings and we're tickled with that."

Nolan Lancaster put Post 11 on the board in the second by following a Cambric Moye single with his third home run. The second inning saw Wayne dash any hopes Edgecombe had of a shocker as it put ten runs on the board. Walker Gourley drove in two runs with a single, and John Wooten and Zach Wright followed with RBI hits, all with two outs.

Earlier in the inning, Bryant Hill and Alex Casey came through with consecutive bunt singles. Reaves cited those hits as what he called "backbreakers." Eight hits, a walk, a hit batter and three errors gave Post 11 a comfortable 12-0 lead.

Tyler Edwards' first home run as part of the three-run fourth gave Wayne 21 for the season. Two runs scored on wild pitches.

Six players had multiple-hit games, led by Moye's three. Nine players had at least one RBI.