AHOSKIE – Post 102 rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as Ahoskie beat Windsor Post 37, 4-3, here Tuesday night in a junior American Legion baseball game.

Windsor got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning.  Cody Matthews reached first on a fielder’s choice and later went to second on a wild pitch.  Matthews went to third on a Michael Scott ground out and scored when Tommy Cowan reaches second on an outfield error.  It was 1-0, Post 37, after a half-inning of play.

The lead was short-lived as Ahoskie scored a pair in the bottom of the first.  Tyler Jones doubled to right centerfield and went to third on a Jordan Brinkley sacrifice bunt.  Jarrett Harrell then slapped a double to left field driving in Jones.  Harrell was lifted for pinch-runner Gage Riddick, who would score on a Jaycob Damo RBI single to right field.  It was 2-1, Ahoskie, after the first full inning of baseball.

Windsor went back in front with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth.  Archie Wesson opened with a base-on-balls.  Wesson then went to third on a Matthew Weaver single to right field, with Weaver ending up on second base thanks to an error on the same play.  Wesson scored on a wild pitch allowing Weaver to take third.  Weaver then scored on a Matthews RBI groundout.  Post 37 now led it, 3-2, after three-and-a-half innings.

The pendulum swung once more when Ahoskie plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Jones was hit by a pitch and then scored all the way from first base on a Brinkley RBI double to left field.  Brinkley scored on Harrell’s RBI single to left.  Post 102 was back in front, 4-3, after five.

Windsor mounted one final threat in the top of the seventh.  With one out Alex Harmon singled to right.  With two out Harmon went to third when Christian Bland singled to left.  Bland went to second on the play and Post 37 had both runners in scoring position.  But Tyler Jones, who had come on in relief of starter, Harrell, induced a groundout and that ended the game.

Harrell pitched three and a third innings for Post 102 allowing three runs.  Jones pitched three and two-thirds innings and got the win, allowing no runs.

Harmon went five and two thirds for Windsor allowing four runs and he was saddled with the loss.  Cowan pitched the final one-third of an inning to complete the Post 37 battery.

Harrell also led Post 102 with two of the team’s six hits. Jones, Brinkley, Damo, and Parker Cline each had the other hits for Ahoskie.

Windsor had 13 hits, three by Weaver while Matthews, Cowan, Harmon, and Bland had two apiece.  Michael Scott and Tyler Baker had one hit each.

”Tyler and Jarrett both pitched great for us,” said Ahoskie coach Jacob Harrell.  “They threw strikes and we had a great defense behind them, especially with catcher Jake Brown.  We played solid defense, got timely hitting, and overall we just had a really good effort.”

Windsor assistant coach Tommy Wells, subbing for the convalescing Bobby Harmon said, “Alex pitched an outstanding game for us.  We hit the ball better tonight than we have lately.  Still, we left some runners on base, but overall I’m really proud of this team.”

Ahoskie raises its record to 6-9 and 4-2 in conference play.  Post 102 will travel to Edenton tonight (Thursday) for a 7 p.m. game at Hicks Field and then host Roxboro back at home on Saturday for a non-conference double-header beginning at 2 p.m.

Windsor finishes its regular season at 6-9 and 2-6 in conference.  The Rebels will now await the season’s final results to determine if they will make it to the regional playoffs in Rocky Mount beginning July 12.