ELIZABETH CITY – Ahoskie Post 102 junior American Legion baseball team posted their first win of the young season Friday night as the Braves topped the Albemarle Wildcats here 8-1.

Ahoskie opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second inning when Steven Futrell reached first base on a fielder’s choice. After Trent Munford was hit by a pitch both he and Futrell moved up a base when Trent Hobbs reached on a fielder’s choice. Futrell was able to score later on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Ahoskie lead thru two innings.

Post 102 added a couple of more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Trevor Lee and Edward Bradley singled back-to-back and Futrell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lee scored when Munford reached first base on an error and Bradley came home on Ryan Rowe’s RBI single. Ahoskie was ahead 3-0 headed to the fifth inning.

The Braves put up a three-spot in the top of the fifth. Lee walked and Futrell singled to get two runners aboard and both scored on Alden Lassiter’s two-run double. Lassiter later scored on a Hobbs RBI single for a 6-0 Braves lead.

In the bottom of the fifth Albemarle was finally able to scratch out a run, but still trailed by five as Ahoskie sported a 6-1 lead.

Post 102 scored its final two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Spencer Simonowich opened with a double and scored on Lee’s RBI single. Lee would score when Bradley reached on an error and Ahoskie led it 8-1 after six innings.

Neither team scored in the seventh inning, and Post 102 finally got a chance to taste victory with a seven-run conference win.

Hunter Mitchell pitched seven innings for the win on the mound, allowing one run on six hits with seven strikeouts.

Ahoskie had 10 hits led by Lee with two. Rowe, Futrell, Mitchell, Bradley, Hobbs, SImonowich, Alden Lassiter and Evan Lassiter each had the other hits.

“We had some great pitching, had some key hits, and we played good defense,” said Braves coach David Ellis. “Everybody played and we’re playing well. It was a good win for our first conference victory.”

The Post 102 juniors are now 1-2 an 1-1 in league play. After hosting Windsor Post 37 last night (Monday) in a game not completed by press-time, they will travel to Washington for a non-conference game on Thursday at 7 p.m.