Kinston Post 43 falls in wild game with Louisburg Post 105
Kinston Post 43’s Jayden Gatling looks to make contact with a pitch in Wednesday’s game against Louisburg Post 105. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News
By Junious Smith III
Kinston Post 43 may not have gotten the win Wednesday, but the team showed great resilience.
Louisburg Post 105 got off to a blistering start on the way to an 18-12 win at the Ronnie Battle Baseball Complex of Kinston High School in American Legion Play. Kinston Post 43 (2-1) dropped its first game of the season in a rain-filled contest, but mad a furious comeback late with a chance to pull ahead after numerous mistakes early.
“We had some things happen that was beyond our control and some we weren’t able to, but we did a good job staying in the game,” Kinston Post 43 manager Ty Eason said. “For some of the younger guys, this was their first true challenge and they’ll gain experience on what to do in situations like this. I’m definitely proud of this team because they showed a lot of fight and now we’ll get ready for Wayne (County Post 11) Thursday.”
Louisburg Post 105 had three hits in the top of the first, but sent 11 guys to the plate to score eight runs, taking advantage of six Kinston Post 43 walks and two errors. Tyler Layton and R.J. Johnson had RBI singles, but most of the damage came from two passed balls, a pair of wild pitches and two errors. The score remained 8-0 in the top of the third when play was suspended due to heavy rainfall, and the teams resumed about 30 minutes later. Louisburg Post 105 would score twice in the inning, then added another in the fourth to go up 11-0 and nearly force a mercy rule.
Kinston responded in the bottom of the fourth as Everett Oliver hit an RBI single, followed by a two-run double from Jon Howard and an error to bring home another run. Louisburg answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 13-4, but Kinston came back with a vengeance in the bottom of the frame.
First, Jamir Jones-Gatling hit an RBI single before Jayden Gatling and Peyton Howard drew consecutive bases-loaded walks. Trey McLawhorn hit a first-pitch two-run single to left, followed by Christian Jones’ RBI single. When Oliver brought home two runs with a base hit, Kinston Post 43 trailed 13-12.
Unfortunately for the home team, Louisburg scored five runs in the seventh and Kinston couldn’t respond.
Kinston Post 43 will look to bounce back against Wayne County Post 11 at Goldsboro High School Thursday. The game is set for 7 p.m.
