Rose Shines on the Mound in Wayne Win

Box is here. Stats this afternoon.

In 2007, Jay Rose quietly but effectively finished several of Wayne County's postseason games on the mound. Tuesday night, he was called upon again, in a much more high-leverage situation, and passed with flying colors.

The Post 11 southpaw rescued his team from a fifth-inning jam and picked up his first win of the season as Wayne defeated North Raleigh Post 297 7-4 Tuesday night at home in a non-conference match up. Wayne will travel to Garner tonight before returning home to face Durham on Thursday. Wayne won its sixth straight to go to 12-3.

Wayne had a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Akeem Hood walked and Brennan Dorsett was hit by a pitch. Brian Young tied it on a ground ball single to left. A double steal put both runners in scoring position for cleanup hitter Jonathan Redd. The big first baseman already left his mark in the game with a solo home run in the second and a single in the fourth.

Post 11 coach Brad Reaves knew it was time for Rose.

"I got him up a little bit late," Reaves said. "I knew that big left-hander was coming up and I wanted that match up, especially if they had a couple of people on."

Rose used the situation to his advantage and fanned Redd on four pitches, the last one a curve ball. He also struck out Bo Brant to strand the runners.

"Jay just comes up big for you," said Reaves. "Jay's a gamer. I want him on my side at the end of the game. I don't want to face him with anything on the line.

Rose did walk two in the sixth but got out of it with a strikeout and a popup he caught. He gave up a one-out double to Young in the seventh but closed the door after that with two strikeouts.

Wayne tied it in the third with the aid of an error, then added three in the fourth With two out, Cambric Moye and Nolan Lancaster walked. They advanced on a wild pitch. Adron Hollowell fell behind in the count 0-2, took a couple of balls and drilled a fastball to centerfield for a double and the lead. He scored on a hit by Bryant Hill.

North Raleigh almost got out of a bases-loade jam in the sixth. Lancaster doubled to right to begin the inning. Hollowell walked and Zach Wright was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The drawn-in infield got Lancaster on the plate on a grounder, and Walker Gourley popped out. John Wooten was safe at first on an infield hit behind second, and a second run scored after the throw home was late.