By By AARON CARPENTER, Staff Correspondent
The Washington Pam Pack baseball team lost its 13th game in a row Friday night, falling 11-2 against the Havelock Rams.
Tied at two after five innings, the Rams (5-7, 2-5) capitalized on some errant throws around the infield to put up three runs on Pack starting pitcher Josh Woolard in the top of the sixth. Havelock then put up 6 more runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.
The Pack (0-13, 0-6) continues to improve, but seems unable to put together an entire seven innings in search of its first win this year.
Washington went up first on the strength of third baseman Jake Duke’s lead-off home run in the bottom of the first.
Woolard wasn’t able to keep Havelock off the bases, but did manage to prevent the Rams from scoring over the first three innings.
In the top of the fourth, Woolard walked the first two batters who then both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Woolard struck out right fielder Chip Smith and fielded a bunt by left fielder Danny Webster while keeping the runners in place.
But Woolard’s efforts went for naught when center fielder Justin Godette, who was a double short of hitting for the cycle, ripped a triple that rolled to the center field wall. That hit gave Godette the first two of his team-high six RBI. After a nice diving catch by Hatteras Brooke in left to record the final out of the inning, the Rams were up 2-1.
Undaunted, Washington battled back in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score. Woolard walked, stole second, and came around to score on Moore’s double to left.
A quick fifth inning led to the top of the sixth where things fell apart for the Pack.
The Rams only managed to record one hit in the inning, but three runs came across the plate, all on wild pitches, passed balls or throwing errors.
Woolard walked the first batter, and the second bunted safely when Woolard’s throw to first brought Brandon Thomas off the bag. Godette slapped a single to right to load the bases. Woolard struck out the next batter, Ram third baseman Aaron Broadstreet, on four pitches. However, Smith scored on a wild pitch that catcher Justin Meekins then threw over Woolard’s head while trying to stop the runner from scoring. Webster got caught in a run down on the same play.
Godette scored during the next at-bat on a passed ball. The batter, Chris Dorman, walked, stole second, made it to third on a passed ball and scored on another Woolard wild pitch. Woolard finally struck out designated hitter Stanley Murphy to mercifully end the inning with the Rams up 5-2.
Cole Hartley was brought on to relieve Woolard in the seventh, but didn’t fare much better than his teammate. Hartley got the first batter to strike out, but walked Noble afterwards. Noble stole second and advanced to third on a bad throw from Meekins. Nathan Vicknair smoked a single to right to drive in Noble. Smith got an infield single and Webster bunted safely again to load the bases for Godette.
Godette let the count get to 2-1 before unloading on Hartley’s next pitch, sending the baseball towering over the left field fence for a grand slam. The Rams managed to get another run across the plate before Noble shut down the Pack hitters in the bottom of the seventh.
Washington will continue to look for its first win of the year this Tuesday, when the Pack face off at home against West Carteret at 7 p.m. Havelock travels to West Craven Tuesday.
HAVELOCK — 000 203 6 — 11
WASHINGTON — 100 100 0 — 2
WP: Glen Noble; LP: Josh Woolard
Leading hitters: H — Justin Godette 3-5 (HR, 6 RBI, 2 R), Danny Webster 2-5 (R), Johnny Godette 1-5 (RBI), Charlie Millea 1-1, Chip Smith 1-3 (R), Nathan Vicknair 1-2 (2 R); W — Jake Duke 1-3 (HR, RBI, R), Justin Meekins 1-2, Weasel Moore 1-3 (RBI), David Tyson 1-3