AHOSKIE – Wayne County Post 11 built a 7-0 lead and held on for an 8-4 win here Saturday afternoon.

The victory came despite a rally by Ahoskie American Legion Post 102’s senior team that saw them get within four runs.

Wayne County opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. They added four runs in the top of the third and a single mark in the fourth to lead 7-0.

In the bottom of the fourth frame, the local bats heated up.

Ryan Matthews walked and stole second before Josh Morris drew a walk.

John Lee then delivered an RBI-single to right to score Matthews and send Morris to third. He advanced to second on the throw home.

Eli Spruill plated Morris with an infield single and Lee scored on an error on the play to make it 7-3.

Post 102 threatened again in the bottom of the fifth. Grayson Toms singled to left with one out. Matthews then singled to put runners on first and second. A double play, however, ended the threat.

Post 11 scored once in the sixth to push their lead to 8-3.

Ahoskie’s final run came in the bottom of the ninth.

Bryce Cullipher doubled to right-centerfield. With two out, Cullipher advanced to third on a Spruill single.

Jacob Dunlow then sent Cullipher home with his RBI-single to center. Dylan Ralph loaded the bases with an infield single, but a fly out to center ended the contest.

Ahoskie had nine hits during the game with Spruill and Ralph collecting two each. Matthews, Cullipher, Lee, Dunlow and Toms had one each.

Dunlow tossed three innings on the mound, suffering the loss. Jonathan Brantley then pitched four innings and Brent Bowen threw the final two.

“We hung in there,” Post 102 Assistant Head Coach Chris Towell said. “Jonathan and Brent kept us in the game. We are playing hard and coming together as a team.”

Post 102 dropped to 1-2 with the loss.