Post 13 steams past Wayne County again, 9-5

GOLDSBORO — These early season games won’t matter as much when North Carolina American Legion baseball Area I East Division play begins next week for Wilson Post 13, especially the nondivision games against division teams, but it’s always a good day when it can beat Wayne County Post 11.

In Monday’s 9-5 victory at C35 Sports Complex, Post 13 notched its second victory over Wayne County in four day after clipping Post 11 3-2 on Friday at Fleming Stadium. It was the fourth straight win for Post 13, which moved to 5-1 on the season with its second win against East nemesis, neither of which will count as division games.

“I love the core group we’ve got, man,” said Wilson head coach Matt Ballance. “We’re having a lot of fun. We’re playing at a high quality right now. And, here’s the thing — they’re still kids. When they’re having fun, they’re playing loose, they’re playing relaxed, and ultimately, that’s what’s helping us win ballgames.”

Indeed, since getting hammered by defending state champion Fuquay-Varina Post 116 Nationals on May 29, Post 13 hasn’t lost. Wilson buzzed 2022 state champion Wilmington Post 10 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Beddingfield High and was ahead of Jacksonville Post 265 by an 11-4 margin in the sixth inning Sunday night at Fleming. Gunfire erupted in the neighborhood, prompting officials to halt the game that was eventually suspended. Ballance said that the game wouldn’t be resumed and since it had gone past the fifth inning, the result was official.

Monday’s game was the first one of the run not played at Fleming or Beddingfield. Wilson took a 5-0 lead with four runs in the second inning then watched Post 11, coached by former C.B. Aycock High star Adam Pate, score four in the fourth to tie it. Another four-run outburst in the sixth sealed the deal for Post 13.

“Four wins in four days straight and three of them are really tough games,” Balance said. “I’ll be honest with you, the way we’ve bought in to playing as a team, 1 through 9, it’s something that’s really fun to watch right now. It is really fun to watch.”

Shortstop J.D. Graziani and left fielder Nick Worrell each had a pair of hits and drove in three runs for Wilson, which only had five hits. However, Wayne County’s five pitchers combined on eight walks and four hit batters to keep a constant supply of runners on base for Wilson.

A combination of those, along with Tyson Foster’s lead-off pinch-hit single and a wild pitch, triggered the four-run sixth for Wilson.

Worrell cleared the bases with a single in the second then scored on Graziani’s second RBI single of the game. The Brunswick County Community College rising sophomore and 2023 Fike graduate drove in center fielder Adyn Gooding for Wilson’s first run in the first inning.

Post 11 shortstop Davis Albert crunched a solo home run in the home half of the fifth before Wayne County added three more runs on walks by Wilson starter Tyler Coates and Post 13’s only error of the game.

Coates, a rising junior at North Johnston, left in favor of North Lenoir’s Mason Sasser with two out in the fifth. Sasser walked a batter and hit one for the runners he allowed on base in the last 2 1/3 innings to get the win in his first decision of the summer. He struck out three.

However, Ballance pointed to Coates’ performance as instrumental, despite giving up six hits and walking four. Three of his five runs were earned and he struck out three.

“Tyler’s line for tonight doesn’t reflect just how well he kept Wayne off balance all night,” Ballance said. “Tyler did a really good job of shoving the fastball early into in the count and spinning the curveball enough to keep them on their front foot and letting his defense play behind him. Our outfield was stellar tonight.”

Will Johnson took the loss for Post 11 after starting the sixth and not retiring a batter. Johnson followed Mount Olive freshman Erik Rosas and starter John Nelson McLamb. Rosas was particularly effective in his 3 1/3 shutout innings while striking out five.

“Rosas had a put-out changeup that we were struggling to hit tonight,” Ballance said.

Hunt High rising senior Connor Radford pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for Wayne County after moving from second base. He didn’t give up a run or hit while walking two and striking out four.

Post 13 has the night off Tuesday but will hit the road Wednesday to face Fuquay-Varina Post 116 in a rematch. The game was originally set to be played at Campbell University in Buies Creek but has been moved to Garner Magnet at 7 p.m.

Score by innings:

Post 13 140 004 0 — 9

Post 11 001 040 0 — 5

W-Mason Sasser (1-0) 2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO. L-Will Johnson 0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO.

LEADING HITTERS — Wilson: Nick Worrell 2-5, 3 RBIs; Seth Evans 1-2, 2 R; J.D. Graziani 2-3, 3 RBIs; Adyn Gooding 0-1, 3 R, 2 RBIs. Wayne County: J McLamb 1-2, R; Davis Albert 1-4, HR, RBI; W Lassiter 2-4, R; Connor Radford 1-3, R, RBI.

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