Wayne County Post 11 right-hander Will Pennington started on the mound and earned a no-decision against Wilmington Post 10 on Thursday afternoon. Pennington threw five-plus innings for Wayne County, which prevailed 9-7 in comeback fashion their elimination game at the 2023 NC Senior American Legion state baseball tournament in Buies Creek. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
BUIES CREEK — Fate hung in the balance, but Wayne County Post 11 refused to lose its faith Thursday evening.
It all started with Wyatt Lassiter.
His lead-off single to start the seventh inning spearheaded a five-run uprising that culminated in an improbable 9-7 conquest of Wilmington Post 10 during elimination-round play in the 2023 NC Senior American Legion state baseball tournament.
Wayne County (31-7 overall) opposes High Point at 4:30 p.m. today.
“There was a lot of pressure on us,” said Post 11 reliever Braeden Collins. “We beat them earlier in the season. [Today] it was a real scrappy game. Both teams came out knowing this was it — lose and you go home. Both teams tried to find ways to win the ballgame and we did in the end.”
The suspenseful final six outs led to an edge-of-your-seats ending that certainly wasn’t for the faint of heart.
Lassiter was a little ticked off, too.
He had a tough read on a hard-hit ball to deep center field that enabled Wilmington to invert a three-run deficit into a 6-4 advantage through six innings.
“There were some plays that might have been put down as errors, but they were tough plays, not everybody could make those plays,” Collins said. “Wyatt was upset. I was mad, coaches were mad … all of us were upset. After the inning was over with, it took about 30 seconds for everybody to move on.
“Everybody turned it around, were ready to go. We knew what it would take to win and we did exactly what it would take.”
Lassiter sawed off two pitches and lined a single up the middle.
Lane McLean walked.
Davis Albert drew a one-out, bases-loaded walk to set the table for Nate Smith. The Midway High School alum plated Lassiter with an RBI single to left field.
Collins provided the game-tying RBI — a single to left that scored McLean.
Alex Ferrell hit into a bases-loaded fielder’s choice that kept the score deadlocked. With Landon Sutton at the plate, Post 10’s catcher attempted a snap throw to catch Ferrell napping at first base.
The play backfired.
Smith, Collins and Ferrell all scored on the error.
“We saw Wyatt get on and everybody knew at that moment, we were about to win this ballgame,” Collins said. “Everybody did their part in the inning to contribute to it…the whole team did their thing. It felt great.”
A once-somber Post 11 dugout came alive and the positive energy carried over into the bottom of the seventh – even when Collins encountered a little trouble.
Wilmington closed to within 9-7 on an RBI sacrifice fly.
Lassiter caught a flyout by Luke Vargo.
Facing a 3-2 count, Connor Marren watched a fastball from Collins come right down the pipe.
“He did not swing,” Collins said.
Game over.
Gloves flew into the air, players hugged and exchanged high-fives as Post 11 celebrated on the Jim Perry Stadium diamond.
“The guys were tired, ready to win,” Collins said. “I’m tired.”
NOTES: Collins batted 3-for-4 with an RBI. Lassiter (RBI), McLean and Smith (RBI) supplied two hits apiece. Will Pennington started on the mound and earned the no-decision. The right-hander gave up three earned runs on three hits, issued four walks and collected three strikeouts.
2023 NC Senior American Legion
State Baseball Tournament
(at Jim Perry Stadium, Campbell University)
Tuesday’s games
Game 1: Pitt County 2, Cleveland County 1
Game 2: High Point 5, Wilmington 1
Game 3: Wayne County 4, Rowan County 1
Game 4: Fuquay-Varina 3, Cherryville 1
Wednesday’s games
Game 5: Wilmington 13, Cleveland County 5 (Cleveland County eliminated)
Game 6: Rowan County 11, Cherryville 4 (Cherryville eliminated)
Game 7: High Point 12, Pitt County 1 (5 inn.)
Game 8: Fuquay-Varina 10, Wayne County 4
Thursday’s games
Game 9: Rowan County 6, Pitt County 2 (Pitt County eliminated)
Game 10: Wayne County 9, Wilmington 7 (Wilmington eliminated)
Game 11: Fuquay-Varina 6, High Point 1
Today’s games
Semifinals
Game 12: Wayne County (31-7) vs. High Point (19-5)
Game 13: Rowan County (38-6) vs. Fuquay-Varina (26-3)
Saturday’s game
Championship
Game 14: TBD
