Wayne County Post 11 head coach Adam Pate, standing, talks with his team after a game last season. Post 11 opens its 2023 campaign at home Tuesday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11 players celebrate a home run during a game last season. Post 11 returns 16 players from last year’s team that finished runner-up in the 2022 Area I East Division playoffs. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne County Post 11’s Drew Spencer starts his slide early and beats the tag against a Plymouth defender during a game last season. Post 11 will play 30 games in 38 days this season with hopes of returning to the N.C. Senior American Legion state baseball tournament since 2021. (Rudy Coggins|mountlivetribune.com)
Alex Ferrell returns for another season with Wayne County Post 11, The rising senior at Southern Wayne helped lead the Saints to 15 wins and an appearance in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3A baseball playoffs this year. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Talented and high-character players.Put the emphasis on talent.
Sixteen ballers with considerable experience return for Wayne County Post 11, which launches its 2023 campaign at home Tuesday against long-time nemesis Kinston Post 43.
Game time is 7 p.m. on Field 3 at the C35 Complex.
“[Our] returners are going to do a lot — teach the young kids by applying some leadership, toughness and set the tone with how hard we play at all times,” fifth-year Post 11 head coach Adam Pate said. “Leadership and experience will carry us a long way. They’re [all] going to play big roles, but collectively, it’s going to be something special and more impressive.
“As far as guys we have added who have played well in the [high school] spring [season] are kids outside the county line who want to be part of our program.”
Come to think of it, Pate may want to switch the uniform colors to green, white and “old glory” gold since seven Post 11 players have ties to University of Mount Olive.
Five of his returnees — siblings Carson and Carter Gipson, Will Pennington, Nate Smith, Lane McLean — helped the Trojans claim their first Conference Carolinas crown since 2017. They advanced to the Southeast Regional for the first time since 2021 and 19th time overall in program history.
A year ago, Carson Gipson compiled a 3-0 record, earned six saves and posted a 2.37 ERA (earned run average) on the bump with Post 11. Fellow bullpen mate Pennington filed a 3-2 worksheet with 1.64 ERA in 39-plus innings of work
McLean emerged as Post 11’s leader in six statistical categories — 128 plate appearances, 107 at-bats, 32 runs scored, 13 doubles, 20 stolen bases and hit .411 at the plate.
Smith swatted a team-leading five home runs and was one of six Wayne County players to have 100 or more plate appearances.
“We’re excited that we’re getting some of our UMO freshmen back with us because we had to figure out what was doable on that end [if they won the regional],” Pate said. “The guys from UMO have time on the mound a little bit — they either redshirted or were pitching up until last weekend. They’re going to be our table setters, front-end starters and get the innings they need so they can return to UMO next season.”
Wayne County filed a 26-8 worksheet in 2022.
Post 11 finished runner-up to perennial powerhouse Pitt County 39 in the Area I East championship series.
However, after more than five decades in the east, Wayne County will compete in Area I West. It will compete against state tournament host Fuquay, Durham and Louisburg.
“We’re a three-bid league this year to the state tournament,” Pate said. “We didn’t go out and ask to get moved, or go out and beg to get moved. This is one time that change was better for the whole area. This is one time that change was better for the whole area.
“We just want Area I well represented in the state tournament.”
Five of Wayne County’s first six games are against East rivals Kinston, Pitt and Wilson. The 30-game schedule includes 13 home outings at either C35, UMO, N.C. State, Campbell University and Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Pate wants his younger players to relish the opportunity to play at collegiate and minor league stadiums.
Post 11 is slated to spend four days in Cherryville for contests against the host team, 2022 state qualifier Rowan County, Cleveland County and an undetermined opponent.
Wayne County entertains reigning state champion and regional qualifier Wilmington Post 10 in mid-June. Pate’s squad has another trip planned to the Palmetto Invitational, a three-day event in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“Our job is to get to them ready for the next level,” Pate said. “As a staff, we plan to show these kids that we’re willing to put in the work and help them put the work in, and if they do that they’re going to be play their butts off.
“It’s going to be a long summer. It’s going to be a fun summer and the kids are going to have the times of their lives.”
2023 Wayne County Post 11
Regular-season schedule
(Dates, times, sites subject to change)
May: 23 – vs. Kinston; 24 – at Pitt; 30 – vs. Pitt; 31 – vs. Wilson.
June: 1 – at Louisburg; 2 – at Wilson; 3 – Hamlet^; 3 – Port City^; 5 – at Wilmington; 6 – Kinston; 7 – Louisburg; 9 – at Cherryville; 10 – Rowan County#; 10 – Cleveland County#; 11 – TBD#; 13 – Wilmington; 14 – at Fuquay**; 15 – Randolph County$; 16 – at Pitt; 17 at Kinston; June 19 – at Fuquay**; 20 – Durham**; 21 – at Durham**&; 23-25 at Palmetto Invitational+; 27 – Wilson; 28 – at Louisburg**; 29 – Duplin Post 511; 30 – Louisburg**.
July: 6-17 – Area I playoffs; 24-9 State tournament$
Key
^ – at UMO
# – at Cherryville
$ – at Campbell U
& – at Durham Bulls Athletic Park
+ – at Myrtle Beach
** – Area I West games
