By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
MOREHEAD CITY — The Pam Pack have been prone to giving up the big inning all season long.
Friday night, it was the same story.
West Carteret scored six runs - all via the long ball - during the third inning as they downed Washington 11-5, in the season finale for the Pam Pack.
The Patriots got a grand slam from Ian Carter and a two-run home run from Damon Haggard during the sixth inning onslaught.
The Pam Pack started well on Friday night, as its first two runners got on base for No. 3 hitter Austin Thompson. Then on a 2-2 count, Thompson laced a fastball from Patriots’ pitcher Joe Monturi over the center field fence. But as the Pam Pack slugger rounded first base, Pack right fielder Gator Moore began retreating to tag on a fly ball. Between the two bases, Thompson passed Moore, reducing his would-be three-run home run to a two-RBI double.
From that point forward, it was all down hill for Washington.
After West Carteret cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning, the Pam Pack added a run in the top of the third as Jake Duke led off the inning with a single, then came around to score on a double steal as, he stole home, while Moore stole second base.
Then came the Patriots’ big inning.
Quincy Adams reached on an error to start the inning, then Michael Robertson followed with a double. After a walk to Tyler Browloe, Carter came through with the back-breaking home run. Three batters later, following a single by Josh Thomas, Haggard added a two-run dinger, making it 7-3 in the Patriots’ favor.
Washington attempted to crawl back into the contest in the fourth as they scored a pair of runs. Brandon Thomas began the inning with a double and one batter later, Weasel Moore singled. The Pack loaded the bases after Monturi hit Cole Hartley with a pitch. One batter later Monturi plunked Jake Duke to push across a Pam Pack run. A couple batters later, Moore made it 7-5 as he scored on a wild pitch.
But the Pam Pack would get no closer as Monturi was pulled for the flame-throwing Browloe. Browloe, came in the fourth and struck out 10 of the 13 Washington batters he faced.
Duke led the Pam Pack with a pair of hits, while Jarred Belknap paced West Carteret with three base knocks.
The loss completes a dismal season for the Pam Pack who finish 2008 with a 3-18 record. But after a 14-game losing streak to start the season, Washington came on late, going 3-4 in the final seven games.
Washington 201 200 0 - 5 6 4
West Carteret 016 220 X - 11 11 1
WP: Joe Monturi LP: Josh Woolard
Hitters: W - Jake Duke 2-2 (2 RUNS); Austin Thompson 1-3 (2 RBIs); David Tyson 1-3; Brandon Thomas 1-4 (2B, RUN); Weasel Moore 1-3 (RUN). WC Joe Monturi 1-4 (RUN); Quincy Adams 1-2 (2 RUNS); Michael Robertson 1-4 (2B, RUN); Alan Buck 1-3; Ian Carter 1-3 (HR, 4 RBIs); Jarred Belknap 3-4 (RBI, 2 RUNS); Josh Thomas 1-3; Damon Haggard 2-3 (HR, 2 RBIs).