By DAN BISER

Whiteville Post 137 closed its American Legion baseball regular-season schedule in style Thursday night as it turned back Area 2-West League powerhouse Scotland County Post 50 by a 6-2 score at Legion Stadium.

Corey Blackwell pitched a solid 6-1/3 innings while Robbie Penny came on to record the save.

The win left Whiteville a 11-9 for the season, including an 8-6 record in league play.

The Post 137 teams is “riding the bubble’ for a spot on the Area 2-West playoffs. If Fayetteville Post 4 can beat Stedman Post 62 tonight, then Post 137 will get the league’s fourth playoff spot. Stedman will get the fourth spot with a win tonight.

Whiteville overcame a 2-0 deficit with four runs in the third inning. Centerfielder Marquis Smith and shortstop Ryan McCleney hit back-to-back RBI singles and catcher Dustin Proctor also added a hit. McCleney and Proctor both scored from third base on passed balls.

Whiteville scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning behind an RBI double by McCleney. McCleney and Penny, who started the game as designated hitter, each had two hits.

Marquis Smith, second baseman DeMichael Smith and Proctor had one hit each.

Rightfielder Brad Bridgeman accounted for the Scotland County runs with a two-run homer in the top of the third inning. Bridgeman also had a double and single. Designated hitter Lee Oxendine had two hits, including a double for the Scotland County team, which is composed of players from this year’s state 4A champion Scotland County High School team. Second baseman Matt Adams also had two hits.

Whiteville had a big night defensively with Proctor throwing out two Scotland players on steal attempts, McCleney firing first-inning shot to home for the tag-out on a double-steal attempt, and first baseman Jordan McPherson coming up with a big unassisted double-play after snagging a drive by Bridgeman in the seventh inning.

Vance Chavis was the losing pitcher. Justin Godwin pitched in relief.

Blackwell, who pitched this past spring at Louisburg College, struck out eight batters and allowed seven hits in gaining his second mound victory in six days. Penny yielded one hit and struck out two in his relief stint.

“The past couple of weeks, our team has come around pretty well and we have shown that we are worthy of making the playoffs,” Whiteville coach Brett Harwood said. “We got off to a rough start this season but things have started coming together for us and our play has become a lot more consistent.

“Anytime you can come out on top against a Scotland County team, you have to be pleased,” Harwood added.

Chavis, Godwin (6) and McRae, Usher (5); Blackwell, Penny (7) and Proctor.