Kinston Post 43's Trevor Sears threw 6 2/3 innings in the team's 5-4 win over Randolph County Post 45 Saturday morning. Photo by William Bud Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

CHERRYVILLE — After a rough start to the American Legion State Championships, Kinston Post 43 found its groove.

Kinston Post 43 defeated Randolph County Post45 5-4 Saturday morning, getting over a 10-1 defeat to Cherryville Post 100 the previous evening. Kinston Post 43 coach Ty Eason said the team felt more comfortable after facing the host school to start its first foray into this stage since 1970.

“The biggest difference was being more relaxed,” Eason said. “Against Cherryville, we were playing in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 and the guys hadn’t seen anything close to that all year. Today, the crowd was lighter and it was a matter of whoever was better prepared.”

Kinston Post 43 fell behind 3-0 to Cherryville Post 100 after the first inning Friday and a 2-run double from Easton Morgan in the top of the inning put Randolph County Post 45 ahead 2-0. Kinston Post 43 fought back in the bottom of the frame, as Cameron Butler hit an RBI double and Trey McLawhorn elicited a bases-loaded walk to tie it up.

Trevor Sears scattered 12 hits throughout 6 2/3 innings, but kept Randolph County Post 45 at bay as Kinston Post 43 made noise in the fourth. Ethan May had a leadoff double, advanced to third on an error, then scored on a passed ball during McLawhorn's at-bat. From there, McLawhorn drove a ball to leftfield for a solo homer to put the team ahead 4-2. Three batters later, Jalin Connor hit a triple, followed by Jayden Gatling’s RBI single.

Randolph County Post 45 threatened in the top of the seventh as Morgan hit a 2-out RBI single and a passed ball brought in another run. Brendon Grant would step up in relief with one on and force Braxton Davis to pop up, ending the game.

Kinston Post 43 faces Union County Post 535 at 2 p.m. Sunday, with state semifinal dreams still intact. The top two teams advance in each division — Kinston Post 43 is in the “Stars” division with Cherryville Post 100, Randolph County Post 45 and Union Post 535 — and face each other Monday for a championship game birth the following day.

Eason said the team will keep its season mantra heading into Sunday’s game.

“Our offense has been a strong suit all year, and we’ll put ourselves in a position to win with our pitching,” Eason said. “Luke (Thigpen) will step up for us as a starter (Sunday) and we’ll put our best foot forward in the game with Union.”

All games of the 2019 American Legion State Baseball Tournament can be viewed by KTC Broadcasting at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRpUzsZXcswYgH89t-CePog.