Kinston Post 43 wasn’t able to lead the American Legion Area I playoffs series this time around, but manager Ronnie Battle said the club isn’t out just yet.
Kinston fell to Wilson Post 13, 4-3, in the semifinals opener Wednesday, giving Wilson the lead in the best-of-three series. Although Post 13 collected its last run in the fourth inning, Post 43 couldn’t catch up, leaving at least one man on base in each of the last five innings.
“We lost, of course, but we’re not out of it,” Battle said. “We’re still the better team. They got a couple favorable breaks out there tonight and they capitalized on it. We had opportunities where we did not.”
Kinston took advantage of two Wilson errors early on, which eventually led to runs in the first and third innings, both scored by Post 43 shortstop Will Deters.
Wilson started off strong at the top of the first when shortstop Zac Layne homered to left field. Layne ran in Wilson’s Tyler Poythress on the play, with Post 13 scoring twice between the first three batters of the ball game.
The teams were tied 2-2 going into the fourth, but the first couple of Wilson batters ran home, including Christian Sledge. He replaced starting Post 13 pitcher Casey Flora after Kinston’s leftfielder Ryan Cobb scored his team's last run off a Sammy West RBI in the eighth inning.
Post 43 put up 11 hits and made two errors Wednesday at Viking Field.
Kinston had its chances in the last two frames. Things looked hopeful for Post 43 when they tallied three hits in the eighth, but Wilson relief pitcher Sledge earned two strikeouts and a groundout to retire the side.
In the final inning, Sledge, who got the save, was instrumental in the first out, catching a Matt Hinson bunt barehanded to get Kinston’s Grant Tyndall out at third base.
Kinston plays at Fleming Stadium in Wilson Thursday night at 7 p.m. for a chance to tie the series. The winner advances to the finals, which start Sunday.
“Even though the game ended in a 4-3 loss, we’re still optimistic that the series will return back here for the third ball game,” Battle said. “Our pitching rotation is set up like we want it, and I think we’re going to be OK.”
Kinston’s Hinson pitched all nine innings and gave up 10 Wilson hits. His last few trips to the mound, he didn’t throw more than ten pitches in an inning, limiting Post 13’s scoring opportunities in second half of the game.
Post 13 200 200 000 — 4 10 3
Post 43 101 000 010 — 3 11 2
Flora, Sledge (8) and Cole. Hinson and Davis.
W — Flora. L — Hinson