Senior Legion scores week of June 29-July 5...

This time the offense couldn't save the pitching.

It didn't matter who Wayne County coach Brad Reaves put on the mound against Durham Thursday night at Southern Wayne High School. The visitors scored against all of them.

Durham Post 7 (12-8) racked up 19 hits against four pitchers and halted Wayne's (13-4)winning streak at seven games with a 12-3 win. Wayne (13-4) will play host to Clayton Saturday night before heading to Kinston for a crucial Area I East South Division showdown Sunday night in the regular season finale.

http://post11baseball.blogspot.com/

 

Shelby 6 Pineville 4

Nine games and counting.
That's where the Shelby Post 82 American Legion baseball club stands with its winning streak at present. It also just happens to coincide with the stretch when it finally began playing home games at Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium.
The latest victory was a 6-4 decision Thursday night against Area IV Eastern Division leader Pineville. It marked Shelby's second win against Post 337 in less than a week.
Records: Shelby 22-10 overall; Pineville 20-6
Next: Post 82 has a doubleheader at home today against Asheville at 5 p.m.
Balanced attack: Shelby, batting .343 on the season as a team, banged out 10 hits. Brett Wease led the way with three and Corey Cline had two.
Coachspeak: "It was tight going into the seventh and we executed well down the stretch," Post 82 assistant coach Chad Fowler said. "Over this (nine-game) stretch we've been swinging the bat well one through nine (in the lineup). We're really pleased the way we're swinging."
Big break: Shelby trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh even though Wease, who started on the mound, only gave up two earned runs in six innings of work.
Post 82 regained the lead without benefit of a hit. With two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, Julian Ridings hit a grounder to second base but a wild throw to first allowed two runners to cross.
Insurance: In the eighth inning, Cline singled and moved up when Canipe was hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch, Wease successfully dropped down a squeeze bunt letting Cline score to make it 6-4.
Closing the door: Eric Shuford (4-5) worked three scoreless innings for the win in relief. He was able to strand runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, he went 3-0 on the leadoff hitter but he came back for a strikeout, then retired the side in order.

 

Sounds like Durham got a little revenge. I'm sure Wayne Co. will pull it together and find a way to get to the State Tourney as usual but congratulations to Post 7.

 

Saying we're going to be there "as usual" is a high compliment, but I doubt we get to the tournament this season. Our team ERA went over five last night. What's worse, our defensive run average is horrible compared to what we're used to. With our offense, all we need is medicre pitching, but we're not getting it. The only thing that might save us is that there is no Alex White or Garrett Davis in the league. We might be able to pound our way to the championship.

Durham hit the ball well in both games. We just hit it better in the first one.

I know. We're 13-4 and I'm crying. Hand me a towel.

 

Durham Post7 12
Wayne County 3

Durham bangs out 19 hits, and only commits a couple of errors to improve to 12-8 on the season after starting 2-5. Durham can wrap up the top seed on their side of Area I West with a win Saturday at home against Roxboro.

Durham is at home (Riverside) Sat 7/5 at 7pm

 

The reporting of scores in the east is dreadful. Someone please tell me the score of Thursday's NB-Kinston game.

 

RD,
Let me make a phone call or two and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

I'm up in Balitmore right now in the hotel, going to see Hamilton play in a few hours. Ain't talked to Josh or his folks in a few years, hope to get the chance this afternoon.

 

Kinston - 7
New Bern - 3

 

You are the man. Of course, you probably get annoyed having to hear that all the time.

 

The Area I East South playoff picture is coming more into focus as we enter the weekend.

Kinston defeated New Bern 7-3 at home Thursday. The remaining games are Pitt 160 @ Pitt 39 and Wayne at Kinston.

The winner of the Wayne-Kinston game gets the top spot in the South for the playoffs. (Contrary to what you may read, teams are not "seeded." Nobody gets into a room and creates brackets. But eye digress.)

Kinston is 5-2; Wayne and Pitt 39 are 4-3; New Bern is 4-4. Here are the scenarios:

Wayne loss and Pitt win: Kinston is one and Pitt two. Wayne is fourth due to the NB sweep.
Wayne and Pitt win: Wayne (3-1), Kinston (2-2) and Pitt (1-3). Wayne gets top spot.
Wayne and Pitt lose: Pitt (3-1), New Bern (2-2) and Wayne (1-3).
Wayne win and Pitt loss: Pitt is third because it swept New Bern

Gentlemen, it's in our hands. We'll either be home Thursday or headed to Rocky Mount.