ROCKY MOUNT – They were good; just that in the end, they weren’t quite good enough.

And so the 2013 junior American Legion season came to a close for Windsor Post-37 Monday in the Area 1 State Qualifier as the eighth-seeded Cary Colts eliminated the number-three seed here by a score of 7-3.

The final day of action featured North Chatham against Ahoskie Post-102 and Windsor facing the Colts of Post-67. Should Ahoskie lose, their season would end and send Windsor to the state games, win or lose. A Windsor win and an Ahoskie win and the two old rivals would face each other for the final spot in the state tournament. Finally, since both teams already had one loss, a second defeat for both would mean elimination.

In Windsor’s game with Cary Windsor tried to get things cooking in the opening inning.  Brandon Battle got a one-out single and Alex Harmon followed with a sac bunt moving Battle into scoring position.  However, Cary was able to induce an inning-ending pop-up to keep Windsor scoreless.

Looking for fresh arms on the third day of games Post 37 sent young righty Tyler Baker to the hill to start the all important contest.  Cary was able to grab an early lead when Shane McQuillan singled with one out and stole second.  David Habrern followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 Colts lead.  Baker limited the damage by getting a ground-out and fly-out to end the inning keeping it a 1-0 Cary lead.

Both teams were set down in order in the second inning and Post 37 was again set down quietly in the top of the third.

The bottom half of the third would prove to be crucial as Cary would grab 5 runs in the inning off Windsor miscues.

With one out, Aaron Ahr reached on an error.  Following yet another error, Habrern singled to load the bases.  After an infield fly, Marty Bennento drew a bases loaded walk for the first run, and a 2-0 bulge.  Jesse Cadran followed with a single, but the ball was misplayed in center clearing the bases and even allowing Cadran to score on the inside-the-park shot. It also gave Cary a 6-0 cushion.  Matthew Weaver came in and got the final out of the inning to stop the bleeding for Post 37.

In the top of the fourth Alex Harmon led off with a single to right-center but was gunned down at second trying to stretch it into a double.  Windsor would then go quietly in the fourth and fifth innings.

Cary would score another unearned run in the fifth to make the score 7-0.

Windsor’s only real threat came in the top of the sixth. Brandon Battle and Alex Harmon led off with back-to-back walks. They both advanced a base on a wild pitch.  Battle would score on a passed ball to finally get Post-37 on the scoreboard and Harmon would score when Shay Langley hit a deep fly to left that was misplayed.  Langley would come around to score on Christian Bland’s RBI double to left.  With the score 7-3 the threat ended there as Cary would get a fly-out to end the inning.

Weaver retired the final six batters he faced in order setting the stage for some seventh inning drama.

Unfortunately, Windsor could not muster any base runners as they were set down in order in the final frame giving Cary a 7-3 victory.

Post 37 was held to just 3 hits, one each from Battle, Harmon, and Bland.  With the loss, Windsor was eliminated from the tournament.

In the end, coach Bobby Harmon was optimistic, though disappointed. He said this in a parting message:

“On behalf of Allen Castelloe, athletic officer, all of Windsor Legion Post 37, and the entire Bertie County community, I just wanted to thank you for your help in covering our team this year.”

He added, “We have a great group of young guys who are a pleasure both on and off the field, and your efforts have helped display them and our young program to the community. We fell one run short of the championship despite having arguably the youngest starting lineup in the tournament.  The future is bright.”

Post 37 finished the season with a 16-8 record and a second place finish in the conference.