Kinston Post 43 drops series opener to Pitt County Post 39

Kinston Post 43's Peyton Howard threw five innings in Monday's contest with Pitt County Post 39. Photo by William 'Bud' Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

This time, Pitt County Post 39 won the low-scoring affair.

Kinston Post 43 fell 3-1 Monday in Game 1 of the Area 1 East championship round at the Ronnie Battle Baseball Complex at Kinston High School. The best-of-five matchup with Pitt County Post 39 continues Tuesday at Pitt Community College as Post 43's offense struggled against Jordan Leggett.

Leggett threw a complete game, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine, allowing Pitt County Post 39 to hold Kinston Post 43 to one run for the second time this season. Prior to Monday's contest, Kinston scored 10 or more runs in 12 of its 17 games.

Post 43 won 1-0 over Post 39 on June 3, but couldn't replicate success Monday.

"That's a tough ball team to play," Kinston Post 43 coach Ty Eason said. "They've got as much fight as any team I've ever played against. We're going to have the same approach tomorrow that we had today, and maybe things will work in our favor."

Leggett and Peyton Howard were locked in a pitcher's duel for five innings, as Pitt County Post 39's scored a run in the third on Wade Jarman's fielder's choice. Kinston Post 43 got on the board in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff walk from Jalin Connor, followed by Cameron Butler's single. Malik Dixon's sacrifice fly brought home Connor to tie the game at 1.

Pitt County Post 39 answered in the top of the seventh with a Jarman sacrifice fly and Ryker Galaska eliciting a bases-loaded walk. Kinston Post 43 tried to counter in the bottom of the frame, but Leggett didn't allow a baserunner as he struck out the side.

Game 2 is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.