Steamers edge Skippers 5-4 after late RC rally

EDENTON — Trailing 4-1 in the ninth inning River City did not go gently into the good night.

With a big storm approaching, and post-game fireworks scheduled, the home team Edenton wanted three quick outs. But the Skippers spoiled the party, or at least postponed it. River City rallied for three runs in the ninth to tie the game and force extra innings.

Finally, in a steady rain the Steamers scored a run in the bottom of the 11th inning on a bases-loaded walk to defeat their U.S. Highway 17 rivals by the final score of 5-4.

The win gave Edenton, 12-8, a season sweep over the Skippers, 6-16, and kept them in contention for an Old North State League playoff berth.

The fireworks will wait until Tuesday night when the Steamers complete their regular season at Historic Hicks Field against the Kinston Wingmen.

The starting pitchers for both teams pitched well Saturday night. On the mound for Edenton was Will Pennington of the University of Mt. Olive. The right-hander pounded the strike zone, allowing just one run on three hits through six innings. He recorded three strikeouts while issuing only one walk.

The Skippers got their run in the top of the third inning. Jalen Greenidge led off with a clean single to centerfield and moved to second on a fielder's choice. He was then driven home on a line single to right field off the bat of River City third baseman Ryan Bibb.

Tanner Simpson played his high school ball at the Albemarle School and is now a senior at Methodist University. The River City right-hander was relieved with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning. Up until that time, Simpson had kept the game close, allowing two runs on five Edenton hits. Skippers' reliever Darryl Husband gave up a run-producing single by Sam Stowe but recorded the final two outs to prevent further scoring.

The Steamers had scored first in the home half of the first inning. Jackson Ellyson walked, moved to second on an infield out, and stole third. He would score on a two-out single by Jake Absher. Edenton added its second run with two outs in the second inning. Steamers catcher Tyler Overaitis homered over the 338-foot mark in right center, the second round-tripper of the season for the senior at West Virginia State University.

Edenton added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Bryce Stephens led off with a double off the left field wall off the Skippers' third pitcher, Jordan Winslow. He would score on Stowe's second RBI single to left field, and the Steamers had a comfortable 3-run advantage entering the final inning.

Cole Bates relieved Logan Fleming who had held River City scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings. Bates was greeted by a double into the right-centerfield gap by Josh Holland.

That was followed by a line single to center by pinch hitter Cayden Dudley. Anders Brown dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line for a base hit and the Skippers had the bases loaded with nobody out.

Jalen Greenidge lifted a sacrifice fly to left field top make the score 4-2. Ivan Santos lined a single to right field which re-loaded the bases. After Bates recorded a strikeout, the Skippers were down to their final out. Designated hitter Doyle McNew came through, driving a 1-2 pitch up the middle to knock home the tying runs. Bates retired the next hitter to end the inning.

Gabe King of Chowan University pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out all three Steamers batters to send the game into extra innings.

Both teams would start their at-bats with the "ghost runner" at second base. John Horton relieved for Edenton and held the Skippers scoreless in his two innings of work. King worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th, but in the 11th the Steamers used two successful bunts to load the bases with nobody out. Ben Bausas walked on a 3-2 pitch to force in the winning run.