Post 102 completes sweep
Published 12:32 pm Monday, July 9, 2012
AHOSKIE – Marvin Harrell had a walk-off RBI-single to beat rival Windsor 4-3 here Friday.
Harrell’s heroics in the second game of a senior American Legion doubleheader lifted Ahoskie Post 102 to a 4-3 victory over Post 37.
With the victory, Ahoskie finished third in the conference. The playoffs begin Thursday and Post 102 will be paired with a second-place squad from the West Division. Ahoskie finished 9-15 overall and 8-7 in the conference. Windsor finished the season 5-10.
Ahoskie opened the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the first frame.
Tyler Burden was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Harrell double to left-center field. Burden scored on a Billy Nixon sacrifice fly giving Post 102 a 1-0 lead.
The home team added to the advantage with another run in the bottom of the third.
Burden singled and went to second on an error. He took third on a Harrell groundout and then scored when Daniel Merritt singled to center to make it 2-0.
Windsor closed the gap with a solo run in the top of the fifth frame.
Caleb Whitley singled to left and went to second on an error. Whitley then scored when Jordan Rogers singled to center to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Post 37 then surged ahead with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth stanza.
Chris Rogerson doubled to left-center. On a Will Gurganus single to right, Rogerson was thrown out at the plate by Ahoskie right fielder Brock Merritt. Gurganus took second on the throw and moved to third on a Shawn Holloway single to left.
As Holloway stole second, Gurganus swiped home to tie the game.
Brandon Marsh and Whitley then drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Holloway was forced home when Thomas Knott drew a free pass with the bases loaded, giving Windsor a 3-2 lead.
Ahoskie, however, came right back to tie the game in the home half of the sixth.
Daniel Merritt and Nixon each drew walks. Merritt scored when Trey Lawrence singled to right, tying the game at 3-all.
Ahoskie scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh stanza.
Brock Merritt singled to center and went to second on a Cecil Lowe sacrifice bunt. Merritt then scored the winning run when Harrell singled with two outs to make it 4-3.
Will Glover pitched five and one-third innings for Ahoskie. Tyler Pryor pitched the final one and two-thirds. Ryan Lilley and Gurganus each saw time on the mound for Post 37.
Windsor had eight hits led by Rogerson, Holloway and Rogers with two each. Ahoskie also had eight hits. Harrell and Lawrence each had two.
“Will Glover pitched a great game,” Post 102 Head Coach Dave Ellis said. “We got key hits and played good defense. I am proud of the team.”
Ahoskie set a record with nine wins in a season. They also set a record with eight conference wins. The third –place finish was also the best ever in a season.