AHOSKIE – They count in horseshoes, and sometimes even in baseball.

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A controversial safe-call at home plate helped ignite a three-run rally and it propelled Windsor Post 37 to a 7-4 win over Ahoskie Post 102 in junior American Legion baseball action here Thursday night.

Trenton White picked up the win in relief of Miller Trowell, spoiling an outstanding outing from Ahoskie’s Trent Munford, who was saddled with the loss. Trowell did go two-for-four at the plate and drove in a pair of Windsor runs.

“I thought Trent really threw a good game for Ahoskie,” said Windsor coach Bobby Harmon. “He kept us off balance the first few innings. Other than one little hiccup, I thought our defense was very good. DaQuan has been really solid up the middle for us all season. Miller didn’t have his best stuff but really came through for us at the plate. I thought that was the best Trenton has thrown the ball all season and he really helped himself at the plate.”

After Windsor loaded the bases in the top of the first inning and failed to score, Ahoskie got on the board first with a couple of runs in the bottom of the frame. Jordan Robinson opened with a single to left and stole second, followed by Trevor Lee reaching after being hit by a pitch. Evan Lassiter then got on base on a fielder’s choice after Robinson was forced at third, and both he and Lee moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Bradley Edwards then reached on a fielder’s choice as Lee scored, and after Frankie Reppy walked to load the bases, Hunter Mitchell’s single to left scored Lassiter. Ahoskie led it 2-0 after the first inning of baseball.

Windsor halved that lead in the top of the second when Brandon Roberson singled up the middle, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch that made it 2-1, Ahoskie.

It moved back to a two-run lead for Post 102 in the bottom of the second when Munford reached on a fielder’s choice, went to second on a passed ball, and then scored from there on Trevor Lee’s long single to left. That made it 3-1, Ahoskie after two.

Windsor picked up three runs in the top of the fifth. After an error and two walks loaded the bases, Trenton White’s fly ball to right didn’t look deep enough for a score. However, pinch-runner Evan Wells took off for home plate, but instead of a slide, came in high with his shoulder hitting the head of catcher Reppy. The ball jarred loose when Reppy fell and the run scored. Trowell followed with a double to left that scored two more, and Windsor had suddenly grabbed a 4-3 lead.

Ahoskie got it back when Lassiter got a lead-off double off reliever White and then stole third base. He scored the tying run on a wild pitch and it was 4-4 headed to the sixth.

In the sixth, White opened with a double, and then scored from second when Trowell reached on an error that left him standing on third base. Lance Freeman’s pinch-hit double plated Trowell and Windsor had a 6-4 lead.

Windsor got an insurance run in the top of the seventh. In the meantime, Ahoskie went in order in the sixth and seventh and collected their fifth loss of the season.

“You can’t let one play get you down,” said Ahoskie coach David Ellis. “We did a better job of hitting the ball; we just didn’t hit it enough.”

Windsor had six hits: two each by Miller Trowell and White and one apiece from Freeman and Ethan Hughson. Ahoskie’s five hits came off the bats of Lassiter, Lee, Robinson, Mitchell, and Edward Bradley.

Ahoskie (0-5, 0-3, conference) and Windsor (3-1, 1-1, conference) will play a triple-header on Saturday at Bertie High School. Ahoskie leads off against the Cary Bulls at 10, followed by the Bulls against Windsor at 12:30. At 4 p.m., Ahoskie and Windsor will play each other in a non-conference rematch.

“We got a tough stretch coming up with four games in three days, so we have to be tough,” said Harmon.