
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994                    TAG: 9406240202 
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST                     PAGE: 55    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: 940626                                 LENGTH: Medium

EDENTON POST 40 MEETS ITS MATCH IN MARTIN COUNTY

{LEAD} Having won seven consecutive games while featuring four of the best pitchers in the Albemarle area, the Edenton Post 40 American Legion baseball team was off to its best start in years.

But that was until it met up with Martin County.

{REST} Martin outscored Edenton, 20-9, and knocked Post 40 off twice in two days.

With pitcher Cory Scott and Alan Lawrence from Currituck, John Nixon from Perquimans and Jonathon Geddie from Northeastern, Edenton figured to be competitive in every game it played. The pitching, however, failed Post 40 twice in the losses to Martin County.

In the first game, Scott, a usually reliable pitcher from Currituck High School, walked in the game-winning run with two outs in the ninth in a 6-5 loss. Edenton had just six hits.

The next night, Martin County scored five runs off Nixon in the first inning en route to a 14-4 victory. Nixon gave up eight hits and two walks in three innings.

The Edenton bats were also cold most of the night. Post 40 did not score until the fourth inning, when Dean Dowdy got an RBI single to left, driving in Scott Robeson, who also reached on a single.

Edenton scored three runs in the fifth when Travis Riddick and Brian Jamison both walked and were driven in on Lawrence's double to left. Lawrence later scored on a throwing error.

Dowdy was 2-for-3 but reached base four times, including two singles and a walk.

Edenton also committed four errors in the game, including two in the pivotal first inning.

The light hitting and shaky pitching, though, has not been a common occurrence for most of the season. The team played extremely well during the seven-game winning streak. What is unusual is that the team has been able to come together for an 8-3 record with such a diverse group of players. Players come from as far away as Knotts Island and Gates County to play for the Edenton-based team. Oddly, there has not been a player on the squad from Edenton in two years.

``This is the best start we've ever had, although we've had better pitching,'' Edenton coach Lin Jordan said. ``This is the closest Legion team to these players. If they are serious about playing in college, they need to play at this level instead of in the Babe Ruth league.''

by CNB