Kinston Post 43 uses strong pitching to beat Pitt County Post 39

By Junious Smith III

WINTERVILLE — Offense was considered Kinston Post 43's strength this season, but a pair of pitchers proved their mettle Monday.

Camden Noble and Trevor Sears shut down Pitt County Post 39 in a 1-0 victory in American Legion action. One day after defeating Garner Nationals 10-9 in the season opener, Kinston Post 43 (2-0) allowed just two hits as one big Trey McLawhorn swing provided the offense.

Kinston Post 43 manager Ty Eason had nothing but positive words about his pitchers.

"Cam is a bull, that's the only way to describe him," Eason said. "He wants it as much as any guy I've coached and you know he's going to be competitive.

"This was my first time seeing Trevor pitch and I heard great things about him, but seeing him out here tonight, his new name is 'Mr. Efficiency.' He came in, all smiles and ready to go."

Kinston Post 43 only had four hits, but Trey McLawhorn made one count in the top of the second, hitting a home run to deep left in his first at-bat of the season.

"I was up 3-1 in the count and expected a fastball, so I just swung as hard as I could and it went over," McLawhorn said.

It was all Noble needed, as he allowed just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings. Noble got into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth with runners on the corners and one out, but he struck out Shea Ward before eliciting a ground ball from Grant Charles Jarman to end the threat.

"I've been playing club ball, so I'm getting better in those situations," Noble said. "I just let the defense work behind me and luckily, I was able to get a strikeout before that grounder."

Sears took over in the bottom of the sixth, retiring the side in four pitches before striking out Robbie O'Neal looking on a full count to end the game in the seventh.

Sears said he was worried because of two long fly balls which could've tied the game, but he ended up unscathed with a pair of no-hit innings.

"One ball went 334 (feet with a home run being 335) and another one went 389 (by a fence 390 feet from home), so I got lucky there," Sears said. "I just wanted to go out there and try my hardest to get those outs."

Kinston Post 43's next game is Wednesday against Louisburg Post 105, and will be held at the Ronnie Battle Baseball Complex at Kinston High.