By DAN BISER

BB&T became the first Whiteville Optimist Dixie Youth Baseball League team in 13 years to finish with an unbeaten record Tuesday when it defeated TurnTech 5-1 in the championship game of the league tournament at Harritan Field.

The BB&T squad closed with a 17-0 record, matching the marks of the 1993 Columbus Physical Therapy team and the 1977 News Reporter team.

“Our kids have done a good job this year,” said head coach Stephen Smith. “There have been several very tight games that we have managed to pull out so it says a lot for the way this team has come together and worked hard.”

Hunter Smith pitched a two-hitter and struck out 10 batters for BB&T, which scored all its runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Gabriel Maggioli had two hits, including a double. Smith also had a double while Nick Honeycutt and Colton Reeves also delivered key hits. Gabriel Maggioli, Gerado Maggioli, Honeycutt, Reeves and Tyler Williamson scored the BB&T runs.

Lance Caffee and Clark Owens had hits for TurnTech, which also finished runnerup in regular-season play, posting a final record of 14-4.

Lance Caffee was the starting pitcher for TurnTech. He was relieved by Justin White in the fifth inning. David Tomlinson scored the lone TurnTech run in the third inning that gave his team a 1-0 lead. BB&T responded with two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth.

The game drew an end to the 37th season of Whiteville Optimist Dixie Youth Baseball.