Todd Smith’s 3-Run homer helps Kinston Post 43 explode past Wilson Post 13
Kinston Post 43 upset the top-seeded Wilson Post 13 in an unforgettable, weather-stricken senior legion ball playoffs series. Initially set to be a best-of-five series, rain delays pared it down to a best-of-three, turning the contest into an adrenaline-pumping sprint.
Kinston entered the postseason with a record of 6-11, making them the unassuming underdogs against the top-seeded Wilson team. But as Kinston's coach Ty Eason later put it, the squad was a "fun group" that had weathered the "downs" of the season and was now revelling in the "upside of things." The team demonstrated this spirit, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in game one, outlasting Wilson 7-5.
The second game was a pitcher's duel that saw Wilson clinching a 3-0 win, setting the stage for a winner-takes-all game three.
Wilson seemed to have the upper hand early on, taking a 6-2 lead by the fourth inning. However, Kinston wasn't finished. As Eason recalled, he told his players to keep swinging because "some of the hard-hit balls that weren’t bouncing our way were gonna fall."
True to Eason's words, Kinston put on a jaw-dropping performance in the fifth inning, scoring an explosive 14 runs, and leading to a 16-6 victory. Todd Smith, who had been missing from the series due to a family bereavement, returned with a vengeance, hitting a game-changing three-run homer. Coach Eason described it as a "really special moment for him and his family."
Pitcher Ricky Cooke also earned accolades, surrendering zero hits and zero runs over one and one-third innings, striking out four and walking none. Leland Barrow also contributed to Kinston's disciplined approach at the plate, collecting two hits and helping Kinston pile up 14 walks.
Post-game, Eason highlighted the pivotal performances of Byrd, Sweet, and Cooke, praising their control of the game. He lauded his team's offensive capability, stressing that every player had been "hard outs." He also emphasized the importance of fun, saying, "I can tell you that our team has the most fun, and that is a huge factor at this point in the season."
And then, in the moment that encapsulated the series' fairytale-like narrative, Eason reminded his players of the challenge they had overcome. He said, "Before that inning (5th inning) I told them that if Cinderella went through all the trouble of getting to the ball, she might as well 'freaking' dance." They did more than dance. Kinston Post 43 sashayed their way into the next round against Pitt, leaving an unforgettable mark on this unforgettable playoff series.
