Wayne County Post 11 right-hander Will Pennington scattered three hits during his six-inning stint against Kinston Post 43 Thursday evening. Pennington and his bullpen mates handed Kinston a 1-0 loss in the regular-season finale for both teams. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
KINSTON — Will Pennington dominated on the mound as Wayne County Post 11 capped regular-season play with a 1-0, non-division conquest of nemesis Kinston Post 43 Thursday evening.
Pennington (4-0) scattered three hits, walked two and retired seven Kinston batters on strikeouts during his sterling, six-inning performance.
Left-hander Sterling Bass logged two seventh-inning outs and left two runners aboard for bullpen mate Gabe Adams. A rising senior at North Johnston, Bass struck out the lone Post 43 batter he faced on seven pitches to end the game.
Bass earned his third save of the season.
Wayne County tallied its lone run in the sixth inning.
With one out, Nate Smith laced a double into right field. Collin Woolard drove in Smith with an RBI double to left field. It was Woolard’s lone hit of the game.
As customary throughout the season, Post 11 tried to steal home and give itself some insurance. Kinston’s defense foiled the attempt, which ended the inning.
Davis Albert emerged as Wayne County’s offensive leader with two hits. Mason Moffett, Smith, Braeden Collins and Daniel Kornegay supplied one hit apiece during the nail-biting road affair.
Smith, Collins and Albert each had a stolen base.
Wayne County (24-3 overall) has won seven of its last nine meetings against Kinston and leads the all-time series 82-34.
Post 11 returns home July 6 to face Durham in game one of their Area I West semifinal-round playoff series. First pitch is 7 p.m. at the C35 Complex.
