Kinston Post 43 comes from behind, defeats Farmville Post 151 Saturday
Kinston Post 43’s Malik Dixon makes contact with a pitch during Saturday’s game against Farmville Post 151. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
By Junious Smith III
Kinston Post 43 hasn’t faced many deficits this season, but the team showed its ability to come back Saturday.
Trailing by four runs twice against Farmville Post 151, Kinston Post 43 recovered for a dramatic 11-10 at the Ronnie Battle Baseball Complex at Kinston High School to improve to 11-2 this season. Kinston Post 43 coach Ty Eason finished 10-8 last year and said the change has been tremendous in 2019.
“This team has really come together,” Eason said. “The guys show up day in and out, and hats off to them. They get the work done and have that ‘team’ mentality. We’re getting our identity as a team and we’re able to put guys out there from 1 through 9 who can make an impact.”
Farmville Post 151 wasted no time in the first as 2-run singles from Jordan Atkinson and Dylan Benton put the team ahead 4-0. Kinston Post 43 struck back in the bottom of the frame with a run-scoring single from Brendon Grant and a 2-run double from Jon Howard, but Zach Nicholson’s solo blast in the top of the second swung momentum back.
Kinston Post 43 would take a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the third after an inside-the-park three-run home run from Christian Jones, but Farmville Post 151 exploded for five in the fourth, highlighted by a bases-loaded triple from Blake McLawhorn to go up four. Kinston Post 43 would cut the deficit in half by scoring on an error and an RBI double from Jensen Barwick in the bottom of the frame, but took over two innings later with a 2-out rally. Howard’s RBI triple and Barwick’s run-scoring single tied the game before Jones’ RBI double put Kinston Post 43 ahead 11-10.
Farmville Post 151 looked to respond in the top of the seventh as Atkinson had a leadoff walk and Benton followed with a single, but Everett Oliver struck out the next three batters — all looking — to end it. Oliver threw 3 2/3 innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
“I was really impressed with Everett Oliver,” Eason said. “He didn’t have a whole lot of pitching experience, but he shut the door and kept us in it until we were able to get our bats on the ball.”
Kinston Post 43 is scheduled to face Wilson Post 13 Wednesday on the road before a home doubleheader Saturday with Edenton Post 40.
