Wayne Bounces Back

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One night after losing by the second biggest margin in the history of the program, Wayne County's American Legion team showed its mettle.

Zach Wright belted a massive three-run homer and Jay Rose provided another stellar performance on the hill as Wayne rallied past Clayton Post 71 7-6 Thursday night at Smithfield-Selma High School to claim its fourth Area I title in the past nine years.

Both teams are headed to the state tournament in Gastonia but still await word on their opponents. Randolph County overcame a nine-run deficit to defeat Rowan County 16-15 in Salisbury to even the Area III championship series at three games apiece. The final game is scheduled for Asheboro tonight.

Wayne (24-6) will play the loser at 12:30 p.m. next Tuesday at Sims Legion Field while Clayton (19-11) will face the winner in the first game at 9:30 in the morning.

After taking a two-run lead in the first on Walker Gourley's home run, Wayne sputtered offensively over the next four innings and hit into two double plays. Clayton tied it in the fourth on Ryan Daughtry's leadoff home run, the first of his four hits, then went ahead with three runs in the fifth.

Wayne starter John Wooten gave up two singles and a hit to load the bases and set the stage for more heroics from Daughtry. The Post 71 shortstop punched an outside pitch to right for two runs. At that point, Rose took over. Blake Murray scored on a wild pitch, and Wayne seemed to be in big trouble considering it had only two his in the first five innings.

But things were soon to change. Clayton starter Jeff Citero gave up consecutive hits to Wooten and Rose after being ahead 1-2. He got behind Wright 3-1 and delivered a fastball that Wright sent out of the park so fast the left fielder barely had time to turn his head as it passed. The tape measure shot meant the end of the night for starter Jeff Citero. Chris Hinton relieved him and pitched two scoreless innings.

Clayton threatened again the next inning. Justin Diener reached on a wild pitch with one out after he struck out. Brian Mills reached on an error, but Rose got a force play at third. He hit the next batter to load the bases ended the inning with a strikeout.

Post 11 went ahead for good in the eighth against reliever Will Henschel. Wright drew a leadoff walk on four pitches and moved to third on two wild pitches. Thomas Pilkington walked to bring up Nolan Lancaster. The Post 11 center fielder was having a frustrating night, having hit into two double plays, but he came through with a perfect push bunt up the first base line to advance both runners.

One out later, Alex Casey was hit by a pitch and Tyler Edwards sharply singled to right to load the bases before Henschel ended the inning on a fly ball.

Rose erased the leadoff batter in the home seventh on a double play and left a runner stranded in the eighth.

Wooten added to the fireworks in the ninth by drilling the first pitch over the center field fence
to give Wayne the cushion it would ultimately need.

Rose retired the first batter on a popup to begin the ninth but Daughtry continued his hot night by homering to right on the first pitch to erase Wayne's margin of error. Colin Parker grounded to second, but Rose walked Brad Fletcher on a full count to bring up Evan Harbinson.

The count ran to 2-2, and Rose fanned him on a called fastball to send the Post 11 players on to the field in celebration.