AHOSKIE – Denied a shot at the post-season because of a change in format, Ahoskie’s senior American Legion baseball team closed out on their 2018 season on a winning note here Friday night, holding off Wilson Post 13 for a 5-4 win.

Under the new format, the Area-One playoffs will only involve the top-four teams in the conference.

Ahoskie opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Scoop Hoggard drew a walk, and then stole second base before going to third on a Gage Riddick single to left field. With runners on the corners Riddick stole second and Hoggard later scored on a wild pitch for the game’s first run. Ryan Rowe then delivered an RBI double into the gap in left-centerfield that brought home Riddick and Ahoskie led it 2-0 after the first inning of the contest.

Wilson halved their deficit with a run in the top of the second inning to trail 2-1 after two innings.

Ahoskie then scored three runs in the bottom of the third. After Riddick reached on an error, and Dallas Trevena was hit by a pitch, Rowe singled to left field to load the bases. Riddick scored on Frankie Reppy’s RBI single, and Trevena scored on D.J. Smith’s RBI single. Rowe came home with the final Ahoskie run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Trent Munford. Ahoskie led it 5-1 after three complete.

Wilson crept closer with a pair of runs scored in the top of the fourth to trail 5-3.

Then in the top of the sixth, Hoggard relieved Munford and Post 13 really created some drama for the fans as they pushed across a score that got them within a run at 5-4.

The pressure was now on Post 102 to get the final three outs and preserve the win. After getting the first two outs, Hoggard walked a batter who went to third on a base-hit to put runners on the corners and Ahoskie fans holding their breath. But Hoggard coolly induced a pop-up to second base for the final out and Post 102’s second senior win of the season.

Ahoskie had eight hits; two each by Rowe and Smith and one hit apiece for Ricky Neathery, Riddick, Reppy, and Munford.

Munford pitched the first five innings to get the win, allowing three runs on seven hits. Hoggard pitched the final two innings for the save, allowing a run on a pair of hits.

Ahoskie closes out 2018 at 2-13, going 2-11 in Area-One East conference play.