Wayne County Post 11 opens the 2023 Area I West Division playoffs at home Thursday against Durham Post 416. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
In the mid-1960s, Wayne County Post 11 established itself as a dominant fixture among its Area 2 Division peers and emerged as the state runner-up twice on the NC Senior American Legion baseball scene.
Over the next four-plus decades, Post 11 continued that winning tradition in the Area I East ranks.
This summer, Wayne County moved into Area I West.
Weather permitting, Post 11 begins its journey toward the division crown at home Thursday against Durham Post 416. Game one in the best-of-five, semifinal-round series starts at 7 p.m.
“We’ve got a lot of veteran leadership from our guys coming back from their freshman year of college and a lot of guys who are new to our program,” fifth-year WC head coach Adam Pate said. “We’ve got a good mixture of guys who have been around a while and know the ropes of a long, tough summer. I think this group is special.
“I think we can make a run and I’m hoping for their sake they get to enjoy that.”
Wayne County reached the state tournament in 2021.
The bid for a return trip has an interesting twist since three Area I berths are at stake. Perennial Area I West power Fuquay-Varina gets an automatic nod as the state tournament host.
Should Post 11 falter in its quest for the West crown, it faces the Area I East runner-up to determine the division’s final berth.
“We’re in the playoff mode and mindset,” Pate said.
Post 11 carries an 11-game win streak into the postseason.
Throughout its 27-game campaign, Pate’s club has outscored the opposition 235-100 and collected seven mercy-rule wins. Wayne County (24-3 overall) is 7-2 in games decided by two runs or less.
Not known for its power, but on-base prowess instead, Wayne County has manufactured runs via sacrifices (bunts and fly balls), fielder’s choices, walks and hit batsmen.
Post 11 has swiped an eye-popping 172 stolen bases, led by speedster Cam Aycock with 41. The East Carolina commit is batting .611 — one of 10 WC players who are hitting .300 or better at the plate.
Wyatt Lassiter is the team leader in RBI (26), followed by Mason Moffett (25), Nate Smith (24), Lane McLean (18), Davis Albert (17) and Braeden Collins (17).
WC bats .358 as a team.
Five college freshmen — Carter Gipson, Smith, Will Pennington, Cohen Waddell and Carson Gipson — have helped the bullpen compile a 3.12 earned run average (ERA). As a whole, the pitching staff has recorded 192 strikeouts in 175 innings of work.
“They’re definitely fun to coach and you can talk about things that are a little more higher level…do a lot of teaching that sometimes doesn’t get done at other levels,” Pate said. “It’s easier to do, too, when you’ve got guys coming back from their freshman year of college. Being age eligible to play Legion is a game changer.
“They’re able to teach guys other things they’ve learned at college and the IQ continues to develop for all of them. It’s been fun and a big part of why we’ve been successful so far.”
Legion officials abandoned the best-of-series format and incorporated a double-elimination bracket starting with the 2000 state tournament. In 2018, they adopted a pool-play format to determine the champion.
Wayne County has reached the state-title contest in 1963, 1964, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2011.
“This [season] has been a good experience, there’s no doubt,” said Carter Gipson. “When you’ve got a chance to go deep [in the playoffs] and you think you can make it to the state championship, it’s always a great a time.”
And a memorable ride, too.
2023 NC Senior American Legion Baseball
Area I Playoffs
Thursday’s games
(Best-of-five series)
West
#4 Durham at #1 Wayne County, 7 p.m.
#3 Louisburg at #2 Fuquay-Varina, 7 p.m.
East
#4 Kinston at #1 Wilson, 7 p.m.
#3 Plymouth at #2 Pitt County, 7 p.m.
