Wayne County — In a game delayed by rain for 27 minutes, Wayne County honored Casey Culbreth before the game as he was presented his Championship Ring from 2024 and threw out the first pitch. Culbreth was 68-19 in 2 years for Post 11 and was the winning pitcher in last years state title game against Wilmington.

Post 11(3-0) got things going quickly in the first putting a 4 spot on the board. Lawson Tyndall greeted Roanoke starter Maddox Bass with a double followed by a walk to Miles Hamm. A pickoff attempt by Roanoke’s catcher would sail into centerfield moving the runners to 2^nd and third. Joseph Buckley would single back to Maddox scoring Tyndall to make it 1-0 Wayne. After Thad Parker wore one on the shoulder, Carson Tew delivered the sac fly to make it a 2-0 game. Charlie Scott then took the first pitch he saw down the right field line to make it 4-0 after 1.

Wayne righthander Gabriel Spears only allowed 1 hit through 3. Roanoke would threaten in both the 2^nd and 3^rd innings but Spears would get out of trouble both times with critical strikeouts stranding 5 total runners.

Brayden McKee led off the 2^nd with an infield hit to shortstop and reached third on a balk and passed ball. A mishandled ground ball off the bat of Buckley to third would allow McKee to score and it’s 5-0 after 2.

The Post 11 onslaught would continue in the 3^rd with another 4 run inning. After Tew was hit by the pitch to start the frame Baines Raynor singled to left. A wild pitch would put both runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with nobody out. A Charlie Hill infield single would score Tew to make it 6-0. After a Mckee single to right made it 7-0, Buckley drove one up the middle to give Wayne County the 9-0 lead after 3.

Post 164 would pull to within 5 in their 4th scoring 4 on 2 hits and Wayne’s only miscue of the game.

The Wayne County bullpen would quiet things down in the latter innings. UNC-Greensboro Signee Ayden West would handle the 5^th and 6th, striking out 4 and stranding 4 respectively.

UMO-Signee McKee would polish up the 7^th allowing only 1 hit and leaving 2 Knights on the bases. Roanoke left 11 runners on base for the night.

After road games against the River Bandits and Pitt County, Wayne County returns home next Tuesday, June 3^rd versus Raleigh Post 157. First pitch is slated for 6pm at Carolina Athletic Park.