Wayne County dealt second straight loss

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on June 18, 2008 1:50 PM

• Print
• Email

GREENVILLE -- Two losses in 24 hours?

Sixth-year Wayne County Post 11 coach Brad Reaves isn't ready to hit the panic button ... yet.

Pitt County Post 39 erupted for four second-inning runs and kept the momentum in a 9-2 victory in Area I East South Division play Tuesday evening. Post 39 remained atop the division at 2-0, while Post 11 slipped to 1-2.

"It was one of those nights," said Reaves. "They hit 'em where we weren't and we hit 'em where they were."

Wayne County starter Michael Douglas retired the first two batters in the second inning. The next six Post 39 batters each reeled off a hit, which led a 4-0 advantage.

Josh Hudson and Tanner Merritt each connected on a double to produce the game's first run. Patrick Roy slapped an 0-2 breaking pitch through the left side of the infield for an RBI. Three hits later, Pitt County had the cushion it needed.

Post 11 kept Douglas out of trouble by turning two double plays over the next three innings.

Unlike Monday evening, Wayne County (6-2 overall) couldn't generate a middle-game comeback. Post 39 starter Paul McIntosh effectively mixed his fastball and curveball to keep Post 11 off the scoreboard for the four innings he was on the mound.

McIntosh allowed three hits.

Two errors and Trey Styons' RBI single to shallow center field boosted Post 39's advantage to 6-0 in the sixth inning. Pitt County plated three seventh-inning runs, including Chase Hardee's RBI double.

Post 39 nearly induced the 10-run rule in the eighth inning.

Wayne County avoided the shutout with a two-run ninth. Thomas Pilkington plated John Wooten, who laced a two-out double, with an RBI single. Cambric Moye doubled home Pilkington.

"It's early," said Reaves. "You can't win the league now. We're just trying to settle into a lineup and define some roles, so it's going to take a while."

Post 11 returns to action Saturday at New Bern and entertains Kinston on Monday. Each game begins at 7 p.m.