By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Washington was hoping to gain some momentum heading into the postseason, and send its seven seniors off in style. Unfortunately, West Carteret put a serious damper on those plans with Thursday’s 14-1 win in Thursday’s regular-season finale at Futrell Field.
The Patriots (13-8, 6-8), earning the No. 3 seed out of the Coastal Conference, batted around in both the fourth and fifth innings. West Carteret tallied six runs in the fourth and added seven more in the fifth, ending the night prematurely for the Pam Pack (11-10, 5-9).
Washington took a 5-3 win over the Patriots in the first meeting.
But West Carteret got some revenge Thursday night, sending Washington to its fourth straight loss. The Patriots banged out 12 hits, including home runs from Dalton Knight, Josh Thomas and Jonathan Campbell. West Carteret also stole eight bases, including a steal of home by Brian Favorite in the fifth inning.
Austin Thompson gave the Pam Pack a 1-0 lead in the first. The senior’s single into left, which extended his hitting streak to 12 games, scored Jake Duke, who had led off the inning with a walk.
However, West Carteret pitcher Joe Montuori buckled down after that. He scattered three hits and struck out five in the complete-game victory.
Duke’s double and Gil Broadway’s single in the second were the only other hits the Pack would get off Montuori, who retired the final 10 batters he faced.
Campbell’s two-run shot highlighted the six-run fourth, which gave the Patriots a 7-1 lead and chased Washington starter Brandon Thomas. Knight blasted a two-run homer and Thomas followed with a solo shot in the seven-run uprising in the fifth, when the Pack’s Michael Robinson and Hatteras Brooks both took the hill. Damon Hoggard had two hits and drove in five for the Patriots.
Vaughan is hoping the Pack, which committed five errors in the game, can learn from its recent woes.
Vaughan was hoping for a better home finale for his seven seniors — Thompson, Justin Meekins, David Tyson, Christopher Everette, Brandon Thomas, Gil Broadway and Cody House.
The Pack, the fourth seed out of the Coastal Conference, qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998. Washington will likely play at Hertford County on May 15 in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state playoffs.