Moye delivers game-winning hit in 9th

MOUNT OLIVE -- First-year American Legion starter Joey Moye delivered a walk-off, two-RBI single in the ninth inning as Wayne County Post 11 rallied past New Bern 8-7 in an Area I East Division contest Friday evening at Scarborough Field on the Mount Olive College campus.

Trailing 7-5, Jes Snyder started the game-winning rally with a double off the fence in left field. Airlon Vinson put runners on the corners with a single to left field. Matthew Holloman (2-for-4, 2 RBI) slapped a two-strike double into the right center-field gap to score Snyder.

After a strikeout, Moye came in to pinch hit for infielder Brady Wiggins. New Bern right-hander Lemmie Barwick, a graduate of West Craven High, jumped ahead 1-0 in the count with a strike on the inside corner.

Moye stepped out of the box, looked toward Post 11 manager Brad Reaves and took a practice swing. Seconds later, he immediately connected on Barwick's next offering which turned into a game-winning hit. Wayne County (4-1, 2-1 Area I East) avoided its first 1-2 start in division play since 1995.

"I told Joey when he walked up there that 'you would not be here if we did not think you could do it'," Reaves said. "He's struggled the last couple of games, but I know he's a good hitter. We want somebody like him in situations like that."

Moye collected just his second hit in nine official at-bats this season.

New Bern (0-1, 0-1) erased an early two-run deficit with a five-run uprising in the second inning.

Post 24 tagged Post 11 right-hander Jesse Lancaster for five earned runs on five hits, including Todd Seymore's two-RBI double. New Bern, which suffered a similar fate last year at Scarborough Field, added a single run in the fourth against Lancaster.

"That one inning Jesse just missed a couple of spots ... that's all," said Reaves. "Jesse hasn't been on the mound in two weeks and he was a little bit rusty. His pitch count was up (and) that's the reason I got him (out)."

Lancaster threw 89 pitches -- 65 strikes, 24 balls.

Right-hander Matthew Holloman provided four innings of four-hit, two-strikeout relief.

New Bern benefited from an errant throw on a stolen base attempt in the eighth inning. Chris Holder plated Seymore, who reached on a walk, with a two-strike, two-out single.

"We've told the guys the few times we've been together that this is an offensive game, no matter who you play," Post 24 coach Gary Smith said. "You play nine innings and 'small ball' kind of goes out the window ... most of the time. Some folks play small ball late when they need to, but it gets stretched a little longer than the high school game.

"That's the trick of making the most of the opportunities that you get."

Michael Sigmon, who played at Lenoir Community College this spring, earned the victory in relief of Holloman. The former Spring Creek High standout yielded a lead-off single to Chris Watson, but retired the final three batters he faced.

Barwick (0-1) endured the loss in relief for New Bern.

Snyder and Austin Hood paced Wayne County's offense with three hits apiece and combined for two RBI. Holloman and Garrett Sutton, who entered the game hitless in 10 at-bats, each banged out two hits.

Six of nine starters registered at least one hit apiece in Wayne County's season-best 13-hit performance.

Catcher Josh Titus batted 3-for-3 for New Bern.

Wayne County continues play at home Sunday against archrival Snow Hill Post 94. Two hours prior to the 7 p.m. game, Post 11 members will be selling barbecue plates at $5 each. Proceeds from the sales benefit the Josh Brinkley Memorial Scholarship fund, set up in honor of the former Southern Wayne standout who tragically lost his life in 2003.