Carolina Athletic Park, Goldsboro —- In a rivalry that typically decides the Area 1 East Champion, Round 1 went to the home team.
Wayne County(11-2) would waste no time in the first when Wyatt Lassiter would greet Garner starter Carrick Ryan with a one out first pitch single between third and short. Carter Adams would then reach on a fielder’s choice erasing Lassiter. After Miles Hamm drew the 3-2 walk, Joseph Buckley would reach first on a bunt and Adams was able to scamper home on the throw to make it 1-0. A failed pickoff attempt to first would allow Hamm to beat the throw home to put Post 11 up 2-0 after 1.
Wayne Starter John Nelson McLamb tossed the first 2 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out 2 before giving way to Ayden West who tossed a hitless third and fourth innings before running into trouble in the fifth.
Post 11 would add a run in the 2nd. Thad Parker led off the frame with a base hit to right. More small ball for Wayne as a Charlie Scott sac bunt moved Parker to second. Baines Raynor reached on the fielder’s choice with Parker out in a rundown. Chandler Hill then worked the walk. Coach Adam Pate would give the signal for the double steal and a bad throw to 3rd allowed Raynor to come home. It’s 3-0 Wayne County after 2.
After both teams went quietly in the 3rd and 4th, Post 232(9-1) would tie the game at 3 in the fifth. With the bases loaded and nobody out Garner would get a sac fly to make it 3-1. Leftfielder Aiden Taylor would then drive a single up the middle to cut the lead to 3-2. Big lefty Landon Neal would take over for West. After a Carrick Ryan single to center, third baseman Cole Norris would hit a slow roller down the third base line for a rbi tying the game at 3. A subsequent Neal wild pitch would bounce back off the fence perfectly to catcher Lawson Tyndall would tossed to Neal covering home to nail the runner coming home.
Lefthander Ryan Morris took over for The Nationals in the fifth and would take the loss as he was greeted by a Lawson Tyndall single to second. UMO-Signee Lassiter then cranked a double to left center to score Tyndall and took third on the throw home. After Adams walked, Morris was called for a balk to bring Lassiter home to give Wayne County the 5-3 lead after 5.
Wayne County extended the lead to 7-3 in the 6th. With the bases loaded Tyndall smacked a 2 run single to right.
Reliever Neal kept Garner in check in the 6th and 7th allowing 1 one run on 2 hits and striking out 2 to earn the win on the mound.
These same 2 teams will play again tonight on the campus of Campbell University.
Wayne County returns home next Wednesday, June 25th versus Wilson Post 13. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm at Carolina Athletic Park.
