Post 11 offense sputters in shutout victory vs. Duplin

HAMLET -- A day after manufacturing just three hits, Wayne County Post 11 again struggled at the plate, getting only five against Duplin County Post 127 on Sunday afternoon in the Hamlet Invitational.

But while Wayne County experienced its troubles, it was nothing compared to what Duplin endured. Four Post 11 pitchers struck out 14 and allowed one hit as Post 11 upped its record to 15-3 with a 7-0 win at Hamlet Memorial Park in a scheduled seven-inning game.

Wayne County, which leads Area I East with a 10-1 mark, now faces a crucial stretch in the midst of playing 10 games in as many days. Second-place Pitt County Post 39, which trails Post 11 by one game in the loss column, comes to Mount Olive College today for a 7 p.m. showdown. Wayne County will travel to Kinston on Tuesday before heading to Greenville on Wednesday for another game with Post 39.

Joey Moye gave Wayne the lead in the second inning when he singled home Austin Hood with two out.

Wayne County took advantage of a crucial error to score five runs in the third. Jackson Massey walked, Jesse Lancaster was hit by a pitch and Jes Snyder walked on four pitches. Massey scored on a wild pitch, and Hood struck out but reached when the first baseman dropped the throw to the bag. David Smeltzer followed a strikeout with a bases-clearing double to right centerfield. He came home on Moye's second hit.

Wayne County added a run in the fifth. Matthew Holloman doubled with one out and went to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a groundout by Smeltzer.

The day belonged to the Post 11 pitchers. Grant Sasser got the start and went two innings, striking out four. Brandon Price got the win after throwing two scoreless innings. But the highlight of the game was Garrett Davis. Despite giving up the only hit, he fanned the other six batters he faced to give him 30 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings.