Post 11’s season ends against Post 39

GREENVILLE — An extra inning shot by Pitt County Post 39’s Ryker Galaska ended Post 11’s season, 5-4, in the Area 1 East Semifinals game four in a best of five series on Friday night at Pitt Community College.

The teams also finished game three earlier that night after rain postponed it on Thursday, and Post 11 lost 7-5.

Josh Hartsfield was the top performer for Post 11 as he went 6 innings, allowed seven hits, one walk and two earned runs. Hartsfield also struck out five batters. He was in line for the win, leaving the mound with a 4-1 lead, but Post 39 rallied and tied the game up with a two-run double from Hunter Christopher and an error that allowed a run to score.

In the eighth, Post 11 stranded two runners on base. Galaska led off the eighth for Post 39 and hit a home run to centerfield to end it. Post 39 will face Post 43 Kinston in the Area 1 East Finals with the winner going to the state tournament and Area 1 Finals.

Post 11 ends the season 23-9. Head coach for Wayne County Adam Pate said he couldn’t be happier with the summer his team had.

“When a lot of other Legion teams lose out, you don’t see what you’re seeing right there — handshakes and hugs,” Pate said. “That’s a team comradery that our kids have built on bought into so I was nothing but proud of them.”

WJG TOP PERFORMERS:

Clay Matthews 1-5, 3B, RBI, BB

Blake Gipson 2-5, RBI

Josh Hartsfield 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 SO

Kai Jones

I grew up in Goldsboro, North Carolina, graduated from Wayne Country Day School and I love my hometown. I also love sports, and have turned that passion into a career. Through my time at the Kinston Free Press and Johnstonian News I got to cover Johnston and Greene Counties, and fell in love with both communities. I love the area I cover, and I hope I do the communities proud with this website.

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