The Watauga Junior American Legion A Team dropped a 9-3 decision to A.C. Reynolds in the opening round of the Area 4 playoffs Thursday night in Asheville. Reynolds scored four times in the fourth, snapping a 1-1 tie; and four more times in the fifth to put the contest away. Mason Illitch, who coughed up three runs in three innings of work, took the loss. Tripp Taylor came on in relief and was victimized for six runs.
Watauga pitching also gave up three walks and hit two batters. In turn the A Team struck out ten times. Jake Cody went 2-4 with a run scored; Tyler Sturgill doubled, scored a run and drove in a run; Mason Illitch had an RBI, Taylor scored and Nick Williams had a double and an RBI.
Watuaga trails 1-0 in the best-of-three series. Game two is tonight at Pioneer Field. Game three, if necessary, will be played in Asheville Saturday. The winner of this series will play the Carolina Flames. They eliminated Hibriten in a double-header sweep Thursday night.