Wayne County Post 11 left-hander reliever Landon Neal follows through on a pitch during middle-inning action against Perquimans on Monday evening. Neal earned the mound win. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 first baseman Joseph Buckley waits for the throw on a possible pickoff attempt against Perquimans on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11’s Mike Hamm dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt Monday evening during a 16-5, mercy-rule win over Perquimans. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11’s Wesley Holmes holds onto third base after taking the bag on a wild pitch Monday evening. Holmes batted 3-for-3 on the night. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 right-hander Hunt Pate started and earned the no-decision against Perquimans on Monday evening. Pate recorded five strikeouts in two-plus innings of work. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 spotted visiting Perquimans County a four-run, first-inning lead during their junior Legion baseball meeting Monday evening.
Then came the offense.
Wesley Holmes paced an 11-hit attack that sparked a 16-5, mercy-rule comeback on the C35 Complex diamond. The rising junior at North Duplin collected two RBI, scored three runs and provided the go-ahead, two-RBI double in the second inning.
“Tonight was a good job by our hitters putting together good, team quality at-bats,” Post 11 head coach Tyler Daniels said. “Out of 33 at-bats, I think we had over 90 percent quality at-bats, so that’s what leads to victories like this.
“They see what outcome happens when they do the things we’re supposed to do [at the plate].”
Dalton Smith (RBI) and Gavin Syverson (three RBI) contributed two hits apiece. Syverson stroked a three-RBI triple into the left-center field gap in the third inning.
Joseph Lund, Holden Wilson (three RBI), Garris Warren (RBI) and Michael Hamm each logged one hit in the scorebook.
Eastern Wayne’s Alex Rouse stole two bases. Syverson, Warren and Holmes each swiped one bag.
Once Wayne County (2-2 overall) grabbed a sizable advantage, Daniels subbed freely throughout the game. A total of 16 players either made a plate appearance or took the field for defense.
“One of the things I’m excited about [this team] is I think top to bottom we’re more aggressive than we have been in past years, even positon players who aren’t typically starting that day,” Daniels said of the talent gap, which has vastly improved since last summer.
Right-hander Hunt Pate started and worked two-plus innings on the mound. He posted five strikeouts, and permitted five runs (four earned) on three hits and seven walks.
Lanky southpaw Landon Neal hurled 1 1/3 innings of two-strikeout relief and emerged as the winning pitcher. Bullpen mate Dalton Smith threw a scoreless fifth.
“Pate got off to a shaky start and then reeled it back in,” Daniels said. “Great offensive output by his teammates allowed him to find his rhythm in the second inning and third innings. He started to cruise.
“Landon is going to be big for us. This was his second relief appearance [and] it was good to see him get into the groove of things.”
Post 11 travels to Roanoke today and entertains Wilmington Post 485 on Thursday.
