Post 11 Opens with Win

Much more to follow after I try to make sense of this scorebook that looks like a list of Biblical descendants. Please let me know if you can't access the box, as Google has modified its format since last season. More in the morning. KeiWate@aol.com

Box Score

Wayne County Post 11 is missing some of its big guns to start the 2009 American Legion baseball season, but the players on hand put together a solid effort to get things going on the right foot.

A lineup that featured three freshmen and only one position player with significant senior American Legion playing time defeated Apex Post 124 5-2 Thursday night at Mount Olive College on the strength of a four-run sixth inning.

Wayne will begin Area I East South Division play against Kinston Saturday night at Kinston High School. The Sunday game at New Bern has been postponed. Post 24 coach Gary Smith called to offer to reschedule the contest due to the absence of Eastern Wayne's players.

Apex was clinging to a one-run lead when Wayne put together the big inning to go ahead for good. Zack Grantham led off with a single to left, and coach Brad Reaves called for a bunt. Cody Richards tried to square around but was hit on the hand by a fastball. After a strikeout, Duane Gurganus hit a soft liner to second.

The ball fell in front of the fielder and seemed to handcuff him as it went between his legs to the outfield, allowing Grantham to score. Cody Davis lofted the next pitch into shallow left-center to score Richards and send Gurganus to third. Edwards hit a grounder to first, and Gurganus was out at the plate for the second out.

Edwards stole his third base to put two runners in scoring position. Matt Neal got ahead 3-0 before the count went full. He singled through the right side of the infield to make it 4-1.

Wayne's other run came in the eighth. Gurganus walked on four pitches, and Davis laid down a bunt to advance him. One out later, Gurganus scored on a throwing error.

Apex took the early lead in the first as leadoff batter Lee Blalock reached on an error and later scored on a sacrifice fly. Parker Harrell drove in a run in the eighth.

Wayne used four pitchers, and they combined for one walk and 116 pitches. Apex put six players on the mound and needed 142 pitches to get through eight innings.

Reaves was pleased with the outcome, especially with what transpired on the mound.: "The pitching was the main thing. I don't think we walked but one. Anytime you do that you have a chance to win."

Post 11 struck out 11 times, but that did't surprise Reaves: "We struck out a lot, but when you have three freshmen in the lineup that's going to happen.

Edwards and Scott Holloman each had two hits. The game lasted 2:23.