Grit But Down 0-2

Tonight Coleman Pitt Post 58 hosted Apex Post 124 in game two of the western division of area one semi finals.  Trey Wells took the mound for Post 58 and pitched the best he has pitched all year for Coleman Pitt through four innings.  He allowed three hits and did not walk a batter but the fifth inning ran out of gas and walked three batters and one scored.  Back out for the sixth a lead off hit worked his way to third on two wild pitches and a James Hook Sac Fly.  A walk and enter Zack Keeter and after a stolen base Esteban Valanzia lashed a single which tie the game.

Coleman Pitt scored first in the second  on a Reid Johnston double, an Apex error got him to third and a two out out single by Dawson Sikes gave P 58 a 1-0 lead.  Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth Logan Pearce singled, Reid Johnston walked and both scored on a Forest Bell double to right center.

Keeter in three and one third innings held Post 124 in check until a miscue in the ninth cost P 58 dearly.  Alex Simpson deliver a sac fly for run number four and that was enough to win game two 4-3.

Both Wells and Keeter held Apex to seven hits while Post 58 had eight on the night.  The bottom line when Apex needed a productive at bat they got it while P 58 squander opportunities.  Jake Gregory gave Apex their second night that their starting pitcher gave them eight innings and for the second night in a row Drew Buckholtz cleaned up the ninth.

Apex now leads two games to none and can close out the series Sunday in Apex at 7pm.  There is one thing for sure the further this group for Post 58 plays together they keep getting better and better.  As they say they are playing just good enough to lose.

Other Legion Playoff scores

Cary 8 Garner 6  games tied 1-1
Apex 4 Rocky Mount 3. Apex leads 2-0
Pitt County  9 Kinston 4 completion of last night's rain delay
Pitt County 10 Kinston 0 Pitt County leads 2-0
Wayne County 6 Wilson 4. Wayne County leads 2-0

The Rocky Mount Parks and Rec 7/8 year old machine pitch all star team won last week the district four tournament and qualified for the state tournament which started today in Wilson at Gillette Park. The State tournament is a three game round robin.    Today the Rocky Mount  stars played twice winning their opening game 15-2 over Coulwood-Oakdale.  They played a second game in the afternoon beating Cherryville 13-4.

They will play their final game of the three round robin games at 9am Sunday morning.  Regardless of the Sunday outcome they have qualified for the semi finals on Monday.  The semi's are a one and done if you lose.  Should they win Monday they would play for the North Carolina Little League State title Tuesday.