Senior Post drops opener
Published 11:29 am Monday, July 4, 2011
AHOSKIE – Pitt County topped Ahoskie 7-4 in the opening round of the Senior American Legion playoffs here Sunday night.
The win gave Post 39 a one-game lead in the best-of-three series.
Pitt County opened the scoring with a single run in the top of the second, but Ahoskie responded in their half of the same inning.
Jud Smith walked and went to second on a wild pitch. He then advanced to third on a Billy Nixon groundout before scoring when Tyler Pryor singled to left to tie the game.
Post 39 added two more runs in the third and another in the fourth as they grabbed a 4-1 advantage.
Ahoskie, however, responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth frame to tie the contest.
Nixon singled to left, Patrick Dilday walked and Pryor singled to load the bases. Mitchell Godwin then delivered a two-run single to right which moved Pryor to third.
Marvin Harrell’s single to center plated Pryor and tied the game at 4-all.
Post 39, however took the lead for good with a single run in the sixth frame.
Ahoskie’s final threat came in the bottom of the seventh.
With one out, Daniel Merritt drew a walk and then, after another out, Smith and Nixon drew free passes to load the bases. Unfortunately for the home team, a groundout ended the inning.
Pitt County added two more runs in the top of the ninth to take a 7-4 lead and insure the win.
In the bottom of the ninth, Harrell had a leadoff walk, but that was the only baserunner for Post 102.
Nixon pitched six innings for Ahoskie while Blake Hill tossed the final three frames.
Post 102 recorded seven hits, with Pryor’s three leading the way. Harrell added two base hits. Nixon and Godwin had one hit each and two RBIs.
Ahoskie dropped to 3-18 with the loss and played the second game of the series in Pitt County last night (Monday) in a contest that finished too late for press time.
If necessary, game three would be played at Pitt County tonight.