Ahoskie juniors blank Currituck
Published 10:55 am Friday, June 15, 2012
AHOSKIE – Stephen Umphlett tossed a three-hit shutout to lift Ahoskie Post 102 to victory here Wednesday.
The pitching gem lifted Post 102 to a 4-0 win over Currituck in the junior American Legion contest.
After a relatively quiet first two innings, Post 102 put together its first threat in the bottom of the third inning.
With one out, Austin Hurdle doubled and stole third. On a wild pitch, Hurdle attempted to score, but was thrown out at the plate leaving the game scoreless.
Ahoskie finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Ryan Weaver and Bryan Merritt drew walks and advanced on an Eric Ortiz sacrifice bunt. Brandon Terry then walked to load the bases.
The first run came home when Ackerman Grace delivered an RBI-single to center scoring Weaver. Merritt then scored on a Tyler Small RBI-single to left. Terry came home when Hurdle drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0.
Ahoskie’s final run came in the home half of the fifth inning.
Weaver singled to left, Merritt walked and Ortiz got a base hit to load the bases. Weaver scored on a Terry sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.
Grace walked to reload the bases, but Merritt was thrown out at home trying to score when Small had a flyout to right.
In the top of the sixth, Currituck had a leadoff walk. On a double to left-center field, the runner was thrown out at third for the final out.
Umphlett retired the final five batters to end the game.
Umphlett tossed all seven innings for the win, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out nine.
“We got great pitching from Stephen,” Post 102 Head Coach Brandon Matthews said. “We played good defense and got key hits when we needed them.”
Ahoskie is 5-5 after the win and 3-1 in conference play. They travel to Elizabeth City for a 7 p.m. contest Saturday. On Monday, the same team will come to Ahoskie. First pitch for that game is also 7 p.m.