Junior Legion teams fall at state tournament

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 21, 2008 1:37 PM

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CARY -- Road-weary Wayne County North simply ran out of steam Sunday afternoon.

Playing its sixth game in a seven-day span, the North dropped a season-ending 13-3 decision to West Brunswick in the N.C. State Junior Legion baseball tournament at the USA Training Complex.

"In the end we just ran out of arms, and after playing seven games in six days we just didn't have anything left in the tank," said Wayne County North head coach Jabo Fulghum. "At one point this season we were 7-9," Fulghum said. "So for our boys to come together and get to this point is great... I am really proud of the whole team.

The North stayed alive in the double-elimination event with an 8-7 triumph over Oxford. Colton Fulghum, Jose Ponce, Josh Frederick, Zach Mozingo and Nick McGee each recorded two hits.

In a rematch of regular-season and Area I/II Conference tournament play, the North turned back archrival Wayne County South 4-1 on Saturday morning. Jimmy Kearney tossed 6 1/3 innings, while John Taylor retired the final two batters for the save.

Fulghum and Ponce each batted 2-for-3 in the win.

Matt Neal and Cody Neal paced the South with two and three hits, respectively.

The North returned later Saturday and dropped a 7-6 decision to Rocky Mount.

Derek Limbaugh took the hard-luck loss despite a gritty effort on the mound. Fulghum reached base three times and was the only Wayne North player with multiple hits in the game.

Wayne South never found a way to right the ship, and lost an elimination-round game to West Brunswick 5-4. Jordan Hood and Keenan Winn each tallied two hits in the season-ending loss.

"We just didn't play our best baseball," said Wayne South coach Trae McKee. "We left too many guys on base and too many runners in scoring position."