Smith delivers game-winning sacrifice fly

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 27, 2013 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Two timely at-bats led to a series-clinching victory against an Area I nemesis Sunday afternoon.

Zack Smith delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly after Ryan Faucette's eighth-inning single, and Wayne County Post 11 triumphed 3-2 over Clayton Post 71 at Scarborough Field.

Post 11 won the weekend series 2-1.

"We got our butts spanked (Saturday), but came back and won two games ... won the series, which is big," second-year Wayne County coach Jason Sherrer said.

Future Mount Olive College teammates Cody Wendorf and Kodi Whitley staged a pitcher's duel on the bump. Wendorf, in his first-ever Legion start, permitted one earned run on four hits and struck out six Post 71 batters.

Whitley surrendered two runs (one earned) on seven hits and logged a baker's dozen (13) in strikeouts on the day. The right-hander retired the Post 11 side on strikeouts in three of six innings.

Each pitcher earned a no-decision.

"Cody threw upwards of 100 pitches and we didn't want to leave him out there that long," Sherrer said. "He got better as he went as far as throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters to make shorter innings. He pitched very well and (I'm) looking forward to (seeing) more games like that.

"Tip your hat to Kodi Whitley. He was throwing the ball hard, spotting up every pitch he threw. I think he got our guys out trying to guess instead of just reacting. We battled and got to the bullpen, and that's all it took."

A left-hander, Wendorf surrendered a first-inning run on hits by lead-off back Jack Sherrill (2-for-4) and Brett Clark. The Southern Wayne senior allowed two base runners in the second inning, and eventually retired 12 of 14 batters he faced from the third through sixth innings.

Wendorf threw a 1-2-3 fourth and fifth inning.

Trailing 1-0, Wayne County touched Whitley for a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Smith singled into right field and scored one out later on Justin Barbour's double deep to left field.

Post 71 attempted to throw Smith out at the plate, but the ball sailed away from catcher Jacob Willis. Barbour, meanwhile, induced a throw from Willis as he took third base and a high throw got away from the third baseman.

Barbour raced home for the 2-1 lead.

"A huge hit by Barbour," Sherrer said.

Ryan Grant relieved Wendorf to start the seventh and issued a game-tying, unearned run. The right-hander from Charles B. Aycock settled down and sat down eight of the final nine batters he faced, giving him a spotless 2-0 worksheet in his Legion career.

Wayne County (3-1 overall) sealed the series outcome in the eighth.

With one out, Garrett Joyner reached safely on an infield hit. Ryan Faucette followed with an apparent double to right field, but it turned into a single when Joyner stopped in his tracks between the bases.

A wild throw allowed each runner to move up a bag. Smith followed with his game-winning sac fly to right-center field, and Post 71 elected to hit the cut-off man instead of making a play at the plate.

"It's one of those plays I think with younger guys they don't necessarily know where to go when things happen," Sherrer said. "That was just one of those things they threw in there and we took advantage of it. It was big."

Post 11 improved to 8-4 all-time against Post 71.