AHOSKIE – The 11-12-year old all-stars from Ahoskie represented the town well in the second annual Ahoskie Invitational Tournament and the 2010 District VII Tarheel League Tournament in Jamesville, as they brought home championships in both events.

The Ahoskie Invitational Tournament (AIT), hosted June 25-27, pitted eight local All-Star teams against each other in this age group. Ahoskie advanced with wins over Plymouth, Edenton and Roanoke Rapids to capture its second AIT championship in as many years.

Despite a rocky outing in the first round against Plymouth, the team was able to pull out the victory and advance. The team sailed in the next round with a decisive victory over Edenton.

In the championship game against Roanoke Rapids, both teams battled and Ahoskie grabbed control of the game in the final inning to win the championship.

Matthew Weaver was selected as tournament MVP, as he led the team in batting average, and played stellar defense throughout all three contests.

Jarrett Harrell, David Watford, Lansden Malone, Tyler Jones, Da Andre Beverly and Tommy Cowan all served on the pitching staff throughout the tournament to hold back some very potent offenses.

More recently, the team competed at the District VII Tarheel League Tournament which was hosted by the Jamesville All-Stars.

In the 1–team double elimination tournament, Ahoskie faced Bath in the first round. Da’Andre Beverly pitched a fantastic game as Ahoskie moved on with a score of 9-1.

In the second round, the team from Ahoskie played Edenton and cruised on to the next round behind the steady arm of team captain Tyler Jones.

Next, Ahoskie would find perhaps its most trying contest of the tournament as the team played with nine young men exactly, taking on Plymouth. Beverly pitched another gem, throwing a complete game shutout as Ahoskie escaped 3-0.

Finally, Ahoskie faced Jamesville in the winner’s bracket finals (the first of three eventual meetings between the teams). Ahoskie outperformed the home town team from Jamesville to win by a mercy rule (12-2) following a Tyler Pope walk-off solo homerun.

Jarrett Harrell gained the win as he pitched a fantastic game to a deadly Jamesville lineup.

The next meeting with Jamesville was not as successful for the Ahoskie team as they lost by eight runs.

In the final game of the tournament, Harrell returned to the mound and held the Jamesville offense in check into the fifth inning where relief pitcher Matthew Weaver came in and continued the job.

Ahoskie took a 5-4 lead into the sixth inning and brought on an onslaught of runs in the top of the sixth to ensure 13-5 victory.

Outfielder J.J. Gatling highlighted the inning with a two-out grand slam to put the game out of reach.

This win marks a back-to-back appearance in the state tournament for Ahoskie’s 12-and-under team.

The state tournament will be hosted this year in Rocky Mount.

Ahoskie’s first round matchup will be played at 6 p.m. Thursday vs. the District IV champions, who have yet to be decided.

Players:

00 – Matthew Weaver – P, 3B, SS

2 – Lansden Malone – P, 2B

3 – Jarrett Harrell – P, C

4 – Slade Cowan – 1B

5 – Chris Wilkins – 3B

7 – David Watford – P, CF

9 – Tyler Pope – LF

10 – Da Andre Beverly – P, RF

12 – J.J. Gatling – OF

13 – Michael Scott – RF, 1B

15 – Tyler Jones – P, SS

20 – Tommy Cowan – P, 1B, C

Coaches:

8 – Justin Burden

18 – Justin Freeman

33 – Jacob Harrell