Southern Wayne first baseman Tyler Odom stretches to field a ground ball as Greene Central’s Braden Burress touches the bag during first-inning action Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne right-hander Alex Ferrell works in the early innings against Greene Central on Wednesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Drew Sweet, right, gets a hand slap from head coach Trae McKee after he hits a deep fly ball to the warning track in center field against Greene Central on Wednesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Greene Central right-hander Braden Burress, who has committed to East Carolina, limited the Saints to four hits in five innings during their non-conference battle in Snow Hill on Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s baseball team stands for the national anthem before the first pitch against Greene Central on Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne third baseman E’lla Boykin stretches to keep a ball from sailing into the outfield as Greene Central’s Easton Creech takes the bag Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne freshman Hayden Waller cranks up to hit a pitch against Greene Central on Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Greene Central’s Cameron Taylor successfully takes second base as Southern Wayne’s Brayden McKee fields a wide throw during early-inning action Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne left fielder Dylan Daniels reels in a fly ball during middle-inning play against Greene Central on Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Tyler Odom dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Greene Central’s Braden Burress steals second base during first-inning play Wednesday evening. Southern Wayne second baseman Brayden McKee fields the wide throw. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Greene Central’s Leland Barrow slides safely under Southern Wayne’s Tyler Odom at the plate during fourth-inning action Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne center fielder Hayden Waller recorded a game-high six putouts against Greene Central on Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne first baseman Drew Sweet tries to field an errant throw as Greene Central’s Braden Burress crosses the bag Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SNOW HILL — Greene Central applied defensive pressure and capitalized on opportunities to push runs across the plate Wednesday afternoon.
Southern Wayne couldn’t.
The Saints batted 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position during a three-inning stretch and dropped an 11-1, non-conference outing at the James R. Fulghum Athletic Complex on Wednesday evening.
“I felt like we had turned the corner after the Easter tournament [at South Lenoir] and started playing our best ball again,” SW head coach Trae McKee said. “We took a step back tonight. There were a lot of simple routine plays we didn’t make. Obviously, we did some things early that allowed them to kick the door open on opportunity.
“They took advantage of it.”
The Eastern Plains 2A champion, Greene Central (19-3 overall) built a multiple-run advantage in the opening inning. Two hits, two walks, two passed balls and an infield error sparked a three-run uprising.
The Saints (14-7) put two runners aboard in each of the second, third and fourth innings.
Rams right-hander Braden Burress, who has committed to East Carolina, buckled down on the mound. He recorded an inning-ending strikeout in the second, and forced inning-ending groundouts in each of the third and fourth innings.
SW stranded five runners in scoring position.
“You don’t even need a hit, just hit a ground ball to second or shortstop to get us a run [on the board],” McKee said. “Take the approach I’m going to put this ball in play, not try to do too much. We had some guys up there to put pressure on their defense … several were at critical times, too.
“Early in the game, if you can get it to 3-1 or 4-2, it’s more manageable when you can cut it in half and crack the ice.”
Burress permitted just four hits – one each to Cuyler Daly, Tyler Odom, Jake Coates and Brayden McKee. He finished with six strikeouts and remained unbeaten in nine outings this season.
Daly scored the Saints’ lone run in the sixth.
Junior right-hander Alex Ferrell endured the mound loss. He surrendered four runs (two earned) on three hits, issued three free passes and posted a strikeout in three innings.
Odom worked 2 2/3 innings in relief.
“Hopefully that didn’t damage our playoff opportunity,” said McKee, whose team is No. 17 in the latest MaxPreps.com Class 3A East rankings. “I don’t think we’re out, but that didn’t help us for sure. We’ll try to get going again Thursday [in practice] and finish out the regular season on Friday against Fike.
“We’ve got to respond, come back and be ready to go.”
