Contributed Story

KINSTON – The Ahoskie Post 102 American Legion Junior team opened the season with a sweep at North Lenoir Post 43 winning game one 15-9 and 11-3 in game 2.

In game one, Post 102 fell behind 1-0 after the first inning due to a Najee Jackson solo blast giving Post 43 their only lead of the day.

Edward Joyner, opened the second inning with a single, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, moved to third on a Brandon Warren fielder’s choice and scored on a Tyler Pryor RBI ground out.

Post 43 failed to score leaving the scored tied at one after two innings.

Post 102 exploded for seven runs in the top of the third.

Travis Ellis singled to left, then Austin Cooke singled with Ellis moving to third. Ellis and Cooke scored when Zeek Williams reached on an error.

John Hunter and Joyner both walked to load the bases. After a fly out, Tyler Pryor’s single plated Williams and Hunter. Dakota Young walked reloading the bases.

Montario Hunter drove Joyner home with an RBI-single.

Ellis reached first on an RBI fielder’s choice which plated Pryor. Young scored the final run on a double steal giving Ahoskie an 8-1 lead.

North Lenoir answered by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third which included another Jackson solo blast. After three innings of play Post 102 led 8-4.

In the fifth inning Ahoskie scored four runs.

Pryor reached on an error and Young was hit by a pitch. Montario Hunter plated Pryor with an RBI single, with Young scoring on a wild throw.

Ellis then drew a walk, Cooke popped up for the first out, and Williams plated Hunter with a single. Ellis scored the final run when Williams was caught in a run down between first and second.

North Lenoir scored once in their next at bat making the score 12-5 after five innings. Post 102 failed to score in the sixth, but Post 43 put up four runs leaving Ahoskie with a 12-9 advantage.

Post 102 iced the game in the seventh, scoring three runs. With one out, Ellis singled, stole second, Cooke walked, Williams flied out, but Hunter answered with a RBI double scoring Ellis and Cooke.

Hunter scored the final run when Joyner reached on an error leaving the score 15-9.

Post 102 had 11 hits with Ellis, Williams and Montario Hunter recording two each.

Brandon Warren picked up the win pitching five innings, allowing six runs, eight hits, while striking out five. John Hunter picked up the save pitching two innings allowing no hits and walking three.

In game two, Post 102 wasted no time scoring eight runs in the top of the first.

Ellis led off with a double and,

after a strike out, Williams walked and John Hunter reached on an error. With the bases loaded, Joyner received a walk scoring Ellis.

Williams and Hunter scored when Warren reached on an error. After a pop up, Joyner scored on a Patrick Dilday RBI-single. Dakota Young then drove in Warren with a RBI single, Ellis followed with an infield RBI single sending in Dilday. Cooke then plated Young and Ellis with a two-run RBI double off the left field wall.

North Lenoir did score one run in their at bat, but Post 102 led 8-1 after the first inning.

Ahoskie plated one run in the second, when John Hunter reached on an error, and Joyner was hit by a pitch. They both moved up on a pass ball and Hunter scored on a wild pitch.

Again Post 43 scored a run in their at bat leaving Ahoskie with a 9-2 lead after 2 innings.

Post 102 scored two more runs in the third. With one out Ellis singled, stole second, Cooke followed with a single, sending Ellis to third.

Williams’ RBI ground out scored Ellis, Hunter walked and Cooke scored on a wild pitch giving Post 102 their last runs of the game.

North Lenoir added another run making the final score 11-3.

Cooke picked up the win pitching six innings, and allowing seven hits, while Ellis pitched the final inning.

Post 102 managed seven hits: Ellis with three, Cooke with two, Dilday and Young with one each.

“We came out ready to play and hit the ball well,” said Post 102 skipper David Ellis. “It was a team effort everyone played and contributed. We can improve on our defense but for the opening game we played good against a quality opponent.”