Kinston Rolls to Regular Season Title

Kinston Routs New Bern



Nothing.

That's exactly what Post 24 coach Gary Smith wants his players to take from Sunday's 15-1 loss to Kinston Post 43. Smith said he'd prefer everyone forget about the game.
"I don't think there's anything positive that a player can gain from this," Smith said. "So you've got to move on."

Playing for the Area 1 East Southern Division championship, Post 24 (8-3, 5-3) never got into a rhythm against Kinston (12-3, 6-2). The offense managed just five hits, and the defense committed seven errors.

New Bern starting pitcher Shawn Armstrong allowed just two runs in five innings, but Post 43 unloaded for 13 runs in the final four innings.

"I think Shawn threw too many pitches, which hurt because we had to go to the bullpen earlier," New Bern coach Gary Smith said. "I can't put full blame on the kids coming out of the bullpen because we didn't make plays when we had a chance to make plays."

The final blow came in the top of the ninth, when Kinston's Mike Wetherington launched a three-run home run over the left-center field wall to cap off a six-run inning. Wetherington's solo shot in the top of the second broke the scoreless tie.