Statesboro began Region 3-AAAA play with a dominating 23-0 win over Liberty County last week, but found itself on the wrong end of a lopsided score Tuesday evening as Wayne County cruised to a 12-0 win in five innings at Mill Creek Regional Park.
    The Yellow Jackets (6-3, 2-0 Region 3-AAAA) scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings, then chased Blue Devil starter Tyler Brown with five more in the top of the fourth.
    “Tyler definitely didn’t have his best stuff,” SHS coach Jim Simmons said. “He battled, but he fell behind some guys early and Wayne County hit the ball well all night.”
    Statesboro (7-4, 1-1) had been crushing the ball — scoring at least three runs in each of its last three games — but was held in check by Wayne County’s J.D. Paul. The Devils managed just two hits as Paul fanned two on the night.
    “(Paul) really used his pitches well,” Simmons said. “He did a great job of pitching with the lead. He got in front with a lot of first-pitch strikes and I thought that he utilized his curve very well.”
    The Jackets had no problem on offense, swinging free from the first pitch.
    Aaron Palmer (3-for-4, 4 runs scored) led off the game with a line drive single off of Colin Chance’s glove at third base. Sid Royal followed with a double to right center and Davis Townsend put the Jackets on the board with an RBI groundout. Clay Teston (2-for-3, 3 RBI) then singled to center to score Royal.
    A pair of SHS miscues helped Wayne County plate two more in the second frame.
    Benjamin Hockensmith drew a one-out walk, stole second, then advanced to third on a bunt single by Palmer. Hockensmith scored and Palmer advanced on a wild pitch from Brown and Palmer came in when Ware couldn’t handle a potential inning-ending grounder.
    The Jackets blew the game wide open in the fourth.
    Another error by the Devils put two runners on base with no outs and Royal poked an RBI single to center. Paul and Same Denty both recorded two-run singles before Wil Stuart relieved Brown to pick up the final out of the inning.
    “A couple of errors hurt us,” Simmons said. “It seemed like we missed a chance to escape a few innings. Wayne County was able to capitalize with big hits. Whenever we were able to get a guy on base, we weren’t able to do the same.”
    Paul continued to breeze through the Statesboro lineup, coaxing weak grounders and getting solid defense behind him.
    Teston smashed a two-run triple off of Stuart in the fifth inning, then scored on a wild pitch to finish off the scoring for the Jackets.
    Paul sat down the Devils in order in the bottom half to end the game early via mercy rule.
    Statesboro will try to rebound Friday as the Blue Devils travel to South Effingham for another sub-region matchup.

    Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.