AHOSKIE – Ahoskie Post-102’s junior American Legion baseball team’s stay in first-place in the standings was short-lived as Wilson County Post-13 swept a Saturday double-header at Hertford County High School Field by scores of 12-1 and 14–4. 

Last month the two teams split a double-header in Wilson with Ahoskie winning the first game, 10-8, and Wilson taking the rain-shortened second game, 6-5.

A single Ahoskie win – or a sweep – and Post-102 would have nailed down home field for the Area-One Junior playoffs which take place July 11 and 12 with the team with the best record hosting the entire two-day tournament. 

Ahoskie took an early lead in the first game Saturday in the bottom of the second inning when Brandon Warren reached first-base on a strike out and an error by the catcher throwing to first on a passed ball.  After two wild pitches moved Warren to third he scored the only Ahoskie run on a sacrifice fly by Austin Cooke.

However, Ahoskie couldn’t muster any offense and Wilson later blew the game open with six runs in the top of the fourth inning.  The game was shortened to six innings after the visitors built a ten-run lead. 

Wilson scored four runs to open the second game, but Ahoskie game back in the bottom of the first as Travis Ellis reached on a walk, stole second, moved to third on a base hit by Cooke.  Both runs scored on Edward Joyner’s double to left center field to cut it to 4-2, Wilson.

It was 6-2 in the bottom of the third inning when Ahoskie loaded the bases with two outs. John Hunter scored on a Zeek Williams hit and Joyner followed with another run when Warren drew a bases-loaded walk to make the score 6-4.

Wilson got seven more runs in the next two innings – including a grand-slam home run – to put the game away and cruised to the 10-run win.

&uot;It just wasn’t our day,&uot; said a disappointed coach David Ellis after the sweep.  &uot;They out-hit us, out-fielded us, and just beat us in all phases of the game.&uot;

Ahoskie falls to 13-8 and 6-4 in conference play.  They will play at Tarboro tomorrow (Wednesday) and need a win to secure second place.  They close out the season Saturday in a non-conference double-header at home against Oxford.