Wayne County Post 11 clean-up batter Lane McLean touches the plate underneath the tag of Wilson Post 13 catcher Mason Sasser during first-inning action Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11’s Davis Albert hands a bat off to a teammate before heading to the batter’s box during the first inning Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11’s Wyatt Lassiter is safe at second base after a throw pulled a Post 13 defender off the bag during the first inning Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 first baseman Nate Smith tags Wilson Post 13 infielder out after fielding a high throw to end the first inning Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 right-hander Carter Gipson threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout against Wilson Post 13 on Strike Out Cancer night at the C35 Complex on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Carter Gipson didn’t take sole credit after Wayne County Post 11 claimed a mercy-rule triumph over long-time nemesis Wilson Post 13 on Tuesday evening.He thanked his defense.
On this night, though, Gipson’s 10-0, complete-game shutout had a bigger meaning.
Post 11 deemed its regular-season home finale as a “Strike Out Cancer” game to recognize those associated with the program who are fighting the world’s deadliest disease.
Less than a month ago, Gipson and his two brothers — Carson and Blake — lost their mom, Alison, to cancer. Teammate Daniel Week’s mom, Cindy, is currently battling cancer.
“It means a lot having a cancer awareness night,” Gipson said. “No doubt my mom was with me tonight…right on my shoulder and here on my necklace.”
Gipson started off with a strikeout.
“That was awesome,” he said.
A rising sophomore at the University of Mount Olive, the right-hander gained command early and retired the first five Post 13 batters he faced. Gipson issued two free passes and filed five strikeouts in the scorebook.
Wilson scratched out two hits and left five runners aboard, including one in scoring position.
“There’s no doubt it’s good when you’ve got off-speed [pitches] stuff working like tonight,” Gipson said. “My fastball was there…located it in and out. I had good defense behind me. There were a lot of hard-hit balls in play.”
The Post 11 offense gave Gipson plenty of working space.
Mason Moffett provided the eventual game-winning RBI, a two-strike double into left field that scored lead-off batter Wyatt Lassiter. Moffett ended the night 1-for-2 with two RBI and boosted his team-best RBI total to 25.
Davis Albert, Moffett, clean-up batter Lane McLean and Nate Smith also scored during Wayne County’s five-run, first-inning uprising. Landon Sutton, designated hitter Daniel Kornegay and first baseman Braeden Collins helped manufacture runs.
Wayne County cobbled out just six hits. It benefited from four sac flies, 10 walks and an aggressive mindset on the base paths. Kornegay and McLean spearheaded the running game with three steals apiece.
Post 11 swiped 13 bags as a team.
McLean collected a team-high three RBI. Lassiter, Sutton, pinch-hitter Collin Woolard and Collins each supplied an RBI.
“[We did] a lot of good things offensively with Carter on the mound,” WC head coach Adam Pate said. “A drag bunt by Wyatt, scoring on a shallow fly ball by Lane…several different ways we scored. [We] had a lot of good at-bats tonight.”
Wayne County (22-3 overall) extended its win streak to nine over Post 13 and leads the all-time series 96-59.
Before the post-game fireworks illuminated the night sky, Pate reflected on the outcome.
“For him [Carter] to go out [and pitch] on Strike Out Cancer night was pretty special,” Pate said. “’We have a bunch of people in the shadows helping with a ton of things and cancer has hit home to our team. We just wanted to do something.
“Wilson kicked in and participated as well, so it was real special night.”
And an evening Gipson won’t forget any time soon in memory of a dearly-missed guardian angel.
