WINDSOR – The thrill of victory.

Windsor Post 37’s senior American Legion baseball team notched their first win Saturday as they split a pair with Rocky Mount Post 58.

A good crowd was on hand at Bertie High School field to witness the 10-9 win after Windsor dropped the first game by a score of 20-3.

Post-37 ended up holding off a furious seventh-inning rally by Rocky Mount in which the visitors scored four runs to turn what was a rout into a close shave.

“They had me worried there at the end, but they stuck in there, worked hard, and I’m proud of them,” said a smiling and relieved Windsor coach Wayne Hill.

“I think folks know now that we’ve got a team here than can compete with anybody,” he added.  “We’re going to be tough.”

Rocky Mount came in with plenty of swag.  Earlier this season, playing with eight college baseball players on their roster, they had beaten one-time state champion, Rowan County.  And, after their huge win in the first game they looked poised for a sweep.

But you can put the brooms away.

Ryan Lilley went 4-for-7 in the twin-bill and drove in three runs. Terrence Jackson was 4-for-6 and scored four runs while Chris Rogerson was 3-for-6 and had a pair of runs-batted-in.  Jim Porter drove in a pair of runs in the first game.

Windsor was competitive in both contests, even the game-one blowout.

Trailing 4-0 after an inning and a half, Post 37 got on the board in the bottom of the second inning.

Caleb Sherman opened with a single over the shortstop into left field.  He then advanced to third on a double to deep center field by Jackson and would have scored had he gotten a jump since the ball went over the centerfielder’s head.

After a strikeout, Porter delivered both runners with a single up the middle to halve the score to 4-2.  Porter then advanced to second on the throw from the outfield.

After a Lilley sacrifice moved Porter to third, Lucas Groover brought him home with a shot into the gap in right-center field and it was 4-3 after two innings of play.

Unfortunately, Post 37 never scored again while Rocky Mount put up 16 more runs, including 10 in the top of the fifth inning.

Windsor didn’t let it bother them.  After a quick break, they came back to score big in game two; pounding out 13 hits.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Post 37 went to work sending eight men to the plate.

First they loaded the bases with three straight base hits by Shaun Holloway, Jackson and Jordan Rogers. Caleb Whitley next hit a shot back to the pitcher, who threw home to get Holloway with the force-out but the bases were still loaded.

Perry Wynns was next with a groundout that scored Jackson, then Lilley got his first two RBIs with a long single to left that scored Rogers with the go-ahead run and then Whitley to make it 3-1. However, a fly-out ended the inning.

Rocky Mount went ahead in the top of the fourth and would’ve had more had they not succumbed to some great Windsor defense and then ran themselves out of the inning with two runners in scoring position, followed by a strike out.

In the bottom of the frame Windsor sent nine men to the plate and scored four runs.

Jackson got a single and Whitley reached on an error by the shortstop. Following a pair of strikeouts, Windsor began the scoring when Lilley delivered Jackson to tie at and Whitley scored the go-ahead later on a wild pitch.

But the home team was not done.

Caleb Sherman walked to put two aboard  followed by a bloop single by Rogerson that fell just beyond the second baseman that scored Lilley and Sherman.  There were still two-on when a strikeout ended the inning.

Three more runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Jackson singled and Rogers walked before Whitley’s base hit brought in one run and an error delivered the other, with Whitley scoring on the same miscue.

Meanwhile, lefty starter Dallas Belch looked like it would be an easy win for the southpaw with five earned runs, seven hits and three strikeouts while walking a pair before he gave way to relief.

But in the top of the seventh, trailing 10-5, Rocky Mount looked like they would snatch away a win. Three walks and three hit batsmen produced four runs before game one starter, Groover, came on to get the final two outs and end up with a save.

“That’s probably the toughest team we’ll face this year,” said Hill. “I’m glad to get out of here with a split.”

Windsor played Elizabeth City Post 84 on Monday in a game that had not ended by press time.  They will be back at Bertie High School field tonight (Tuesday) hosting Wilson Post 13 at 7 p.m.