Piedmont part-timer Jerry Connell came through with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Boll Weevils to a 2-1 Hollywood-scripted win over visiting Asheville on Sunday afternoon.

Connell is the Weevils’ fifth outfielder, a job description which often makes him feel about as useful as a fifth wheel.

When Weevil manager Ken Oberkfell fills out his lineup card, he usually fills up his outfield with Carlos Acevedo (.297 batting average), Alejandro Giron (.284) and speedy Jason Johnson (.263). Behind that trio is Brian Bush, a June draftee who is considered a good prospect. Power-packed Eric Schreimann (11 homers) has earned the designated hitter’s spot.

That doesn’t leave much work for the 24-year-old Connell (.236), the eldest of the Weevils’ outfielders by nearly two years. Connell is usually relegated to a spot on the bench either with Piedmont or Philadelphia’s higher Class A team in Clearwater.

“I don’t blame anyone for not playing more,” says Connell in his Jersey accent. “The other guys have been going real good. I ain’t been doing nothin’ for two weeks.”

But Sunday, Oberkfell wanted to rest regular catcher Jeremy Salazar. That decision pushed backup receiver Schreimann behind the plate. Then, on a hunch, Oberkfell scribbled Connell’s name into Schreimann’s vacated DH slot.

Two hours later, Connell made Oberkfell look like Professor Einstein.

Making the playoffs in the South Atlantic League — the majority of the league’s 14 teams will do so— isn’t much harder than making a “B’’ in your high school P.E. class. Basically, all you have do is show up on time and dress out.

But lately, the Weevils — at least their hitters —haven’t been doing even that much. They’ve been putting up more zeroes than a Siberian weatherman.

For most of Sunday it was more of the same for the Weevils (61-64), who looked as pitiful at the plate as they had in Saturday’s desultory 10-0 loss to the Tourists (57-70). That sad scenario had marked the Weevils’ fourth straight setback and the 10th time they had been on the wrong end of a shutout in 1999.

Sunday, though, the Weevils’ pitching was much better. Lefty Greg Kubes battled into the eighth and allowed only one run. He gave his teammates a chance.

With Piedmont still down 1-0 and still working on its miserable 17-inning scoreless streak, Bush worked a walk to start the last of the ninth. No. 3 hitter Alejandro Giron sacrificed him to second.

“Giron’s a No. 3 for us, but he won’t be a No. 3 at higher levels,” said Oberkfell. “He has to learn to do those little things. He did a nice job.”

So did Schreimann. He got down in the count, but then took a pitch off his body— he leads the world in being hit by pitches — to reach base. Then Shayne Carnes, not known for speed, legged out a chopper to third to load the sacks.

“He hustled,” said Oberkfell. “Shayne busted his butt to get down there.”

Then Acevedo got the tying run home with what Oberkfell termed a “great at-bat.” His two-strike liner to right was the second out of the inning, but was also deep enough to score a tagging Bush.

Now, with two outs and two on and the game even at 1-1, the scheduled hitter was the slumping Connell, who had a meager three hits in his previous 39 at-bats.

But Asheville had changed pitchers before Acevedo batted, and during that break Oberkfell had waved down to the bullpen for Salazar to dash to the dugout. Everyone left in the park figured that “Sally” was going to be called upon to pinch-hit for Connell.

For some reason — maybe because the Weevils were assured of at least going to extra innings — Oberkfell changed his mind. He let Connell hit.

“Yeah, I thought Salazar was going to hit for me,” said Connell. “Because I hadn’t come through in the seventh (when he left Acevedo stranded at third). But he (Oberkfell) showed a little confidence in me. I’m thankful he did.”

Later, Connell couldn’t explain why Tourist pitcher Doug Thompson didn’t throw him another of the curves he’s been struggling to hit. Instead, Thompson fed the starving right-handed batter a high fastball out over the plate. Connell went with the pitch and drove it over the head of right fielder Richy Leon. Running all the way with two outs, Schreimann scored easily from second, and the Weevils had earned a walk-off win.

“We needed that and Jerry needed that,” said Oberkfell. “Maybe, this will get him going.”

Connell was greeted with cries of “Superstar” by his teammates when he entered the locker room. A grinning Oberkfell grabbed him by the shoulders, patted him on the back and yelled, “Way to stay on the ball!”

For a little while, Connell couldn’t say much of anything, but the expression on his face said it all. Dinosaurs roamed the earth the last time he’d gotten a hit this big.

“You know,” he finally said with a grin, “this feels good. That might be the first time I’ve really helped this team win a ballgame.”