From the Major Leagues down to Little League, there are a couple of games each season that slip through the cracks, games that were not wins and never would have been wins, even for the best of teams.

That is, at least, what Nash County Coleman-Pitt Post 58 coach Matt Bryan said Thursday night in the wake of an 11-4 loss to Wilson County Post 13 at Nash Central High. And, for whatever that loss happens to worth, that is what happened on the field.

"We did not mentally prepare for this game," Bryan said. "We just were not ready to play."

Post 58 struggled before even the first pitch, when they plodded through infield practice, then dropped behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning. The hole stretched to 6-0 in the second inning, and Post 58 never managed to close within less than five runs the rest of the game.

That Post 58 (8-2, 5-1) played so poorly is a surprise. The team had won eight straight games, including a 9-1 win over Post 13 (15-3, 6-1) at Fleming Stadium in Wilson a little more than a week ago. That win set the proverbial stage Thursday for another big win. Post 13 played well. Post 58 did not.

"I expected this to be a tight game," Bryan said. "I thought this was going to be the best game of the season."

No such luck. Post 13 knocked what seemed to be every other pitch from Post 58 right-hander Alex Pearce all over the field. Post 13 hit seven doubles, including at least one during each of the first five innings. Post 58 managed to return the favor, to a degree, scoring a run during three of the last four innings, but never mounted a true rally.

Third baseman Collins Cuthrell batted 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead Post 58. Second baseman Brian Allen and right fielder Xavier Macklin each rapped two singles.

Post 13 right fielder Jacob Davis helped to carry his team with three doubles and five RBI, all during the first five innings.

"We kind of overlooked them" Pearce said, dragging hit bat bag out of the dugout after the game. "But they came out hitting. And they just kept hitting."

Matt LaWell can be reached at 407-9952 or mlawell@coxnc.com

Wilson County Post 13 11

Nash County Post 58 4

WCP13 330 140 000 – 11 11 1

NCP58 001 001 101 – 4 11 2

WP: William Prince (7IP, 3R, 2ER, 8H, 1BB, 7K); LP: Alex Pearce (4IP, 7R, 5ER, 8H, 1BB, 1HB, 2K).

2B: Collins Cuthrell (NCP58); Jacob Davis 3 (WCP13), Mitchell Wheeler (WCP13), Jerome Richardson (WCP13), Zac Moore (WCP13), Brett Allen (WCP13).