Pitt County’s Ethan Ipock dives back safely to first base as Wayne County’s Mason Moffett reels in the throw during third-inning action Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Pitt County’s Ethan Ipock scores his team’s first run while Wayne County Post 11 catcher Carter Aycock waits for the relay throw during the second inning Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 lead-off batter Lane McLean batted 3-for-3 with three RBI and just missed hitting for the cycle against Pitt County Post 39 on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
The throw gets away from Wayne County Post 11 first baseman Mason Moffett as Pitt County’s Mason Hobbs safely reaches base in the first inning Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountoliveribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 right-hander Carson Gipson scattered four hits in a four-inning effort on the mound against Pitt County Post 39 on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 players listen to head coach Adam Pate after a 14-3, mercy-rule win over Pitt County Post 39 on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Teammates celebrate with Wyatt Lassiter, center, after he hit an inside-the-park home run in the third inning against Pitt County Post 39. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11’s Davis Albert looks back toward the dugout after hitting a double in the third inning against Pitt. Albert scored on Wyatt Lassiter’s inside-the-park home run. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
The longest-running series on the Area I East senior American Legion baseball scene started a little tense Tuesday evening.
Then, Wayne County Post 11 broke open the game.
Lane McLean and Davis Albert sparked a second-inning rally that served as the springboard to a 14-3, mercy-rule conquest of nemesis Pitt County Post 39.
“We limited our strikeouts,” Post 11 head coach Adam Pate. “[The] top our lineup with Lane and Davis, they were pretty special during the night. I think they were both on base every time they got to the plate.
“Then, working our way down [the lineup] Wyatt [Lassiter] and Braeden [Collins] had good nights. Any time you score 14 runs, you give yourself a chance to win, and we did that tonight.”
McLean just missed hitting for the cycle.
The rising sophomore at the University of Mount Olive walked his first at-bat. He singled, doubled and tripled during his next three plate appearances, and collected three RBI.
In three games, McLean is batting 6-for-8 with six RBI.
“I just come out here and play as hard as I can, help my teammates as much as I can and I can’t do it without them,” McLean said. “They have to get on [base] so I can help them and they have my back if I get on when I’m leading off or something.”
Albert contributed three hits, drew a walk and collected an RBI.
On the night, Albert and McLean combined to reach base on eight occasions and accounted for seven runs.
Their timely hitting helped Wayne County build a 5-0 lead after one inning. However, Pitt County countered with a three-run second on three hits, two walks and a catcher’s interference call.
“Answer back,” Pate told his club after the inning ended.
Post 11 did.
Over the next three innings, Wayne County notched nine runs.
Albert connected a two-RBI double during that stretch. Lassiter stroked a two-RBI, inside-the-park home run that rolled to the left-center field fence.
McLean poked an RBI triple to left field in the fourth inning.
“Lane is a freak athlete, great defender and when he gets in the box, he’s ready to do some damage,” Pate said. “He doesn’t just swing to swing. When he gets on base, he’s got speed.”
While Post 11 generated its third double-digit offensive performance of the season, Carson Gipson quietly settled down on the mound.
The right-hander overcame his second-inning hiccup and put three consecutive zeros on the board. He notched three strikeouts and didn’t allow a ball to leave the infield.
“My body was getting kind of quick … wasn’t focusing, honestly,” Gipson said. “I just had to loosen up, let my teammates have my back out there [and] trust them a little bit. I really just relaxed, trusted my stuff.
“My heater and matching it with a curveball helped me out a lot and kept them on their toes a little bit.”
Gipson (1-0) permitted three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks. The University of Mount Olive freshman sat down five Pitt batters on strikeouts.
Bullpen mate Gage Adams hurled a perfect fifth.
Wayne County improved to 98-83 all-time against Pitt County, including six wins in seven regular-season meetings since 2021.
Post 11 concludes its three-game home stretch today against Wilson Post 13. First pitch is 6 p.m. at the C35 Complex.
