Post 43 Rallies for Second Straight Win

Kinston Post 43 summer senior legion baseball team rallied to secure a 9-7 victory against Wilson Post 13 on Thursday night. The win boosts their record to 4-5 and marks their second consecutive win.

Wilson Post 13 initially took the lead when JD Graziani doubled, driving in a run. However, Post 43 quickly responded in the first inning. Drew Sweet hit a home run to left field, scoring three runs and putting Kinston Post 43 ahead 3-1.

Leland Barrow, who had an exceptional night at the plate for Post 43, spoke about his performance. “I felt comfortable, I was ready to jump on anything I saw in the zone,” Barrow said after going 3-3 with four RBIs. “I haven’t been feeling that way the last few games, so it felt good.”

Kinston extended their lead in the second inning following an error and a single by Will Radford. However, Wilson Post 13 tied the game in the fifth, courtesy of a double play and a single by Spencer Bass.

Not to be outdone, Kinston Post 43 took control in the bottom of the fifth when Barrow singled, scoring two runs, followed by a single from Braden Burress that extended their lead to 9-6.

Ricky Cooke clinched the win for Post 43. He allowed nine hits and five runs over four innings, striking out two and walking two. Hunter Lewis took the loss for Wilson Post 13, yielding six runs on six hits over three innings, with two strikeouts and one walk. Alex Davis and Landon Tyndall each made relief appearances for Post 43.

In reflecting on his team’s performance so far, Barrow noted, “We’re solid when we’re all clicking. We got to get better at the plate but other than that we look good. We had a rough start but we’re slowly but surely improving each game and getting in the win column.”

The Kinston Post 43 team tallied 11 hits in the game. Barrow, Radford, Jackson Harrell, and Burress each contributed two hits. Sweet added additional firepower in the middle of the lineup, leading Post 43 with three runs batted in.

Next, Kinston Post 43 is scheduled to play at Wilmington on Saturday. With their momentum on the rise, the team is eager to continue improving and adding wins to their record.