By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

Longtime North Carolina American Legion Baseball stronghold Caldwell County Post 29 made a visit to southeastern North Carolina this past weekend and stopped off in Whiteville for a Sunday game with Whiteville Post 137.

The Caldwell County team, which includes players from the state 4A champion South Caldwell High School team, came away with a 5-3 victory behind a two-out, two-run double by Justin Busher in the top of the ninth inning.

It was Whiteville Post 137’s fifth loss in six games this season.

Jimmy Messer, who played a key role in South Caldwell’s march to state 4A high school title, was the winning pitcher after coming on to relieve starter Cody Poarch in the fifth inning.

Jeremy King took the mound loss for Post 137.

Caldwell County took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Whiteville starter Robbie Penny issued three walks. Whiteville tied the score in the second inning when Lloyd Enzor led off with a single and scored when a fly ball to leftfield by Chris Harris was dropped.

Coach Brett Harwood’s Post 137 team went ahead in the fourth inning when Charlie Gore and Ben Deans hit back-to-back singles. Both scored one out later on a single by Ian Hooks.

Caldwell County tallied two runs in fifth inning to tie the score at 3-3.

Whiteville and Caldwell County’s American Legion baseball rivalry dates back to 1985 when Whiteville defeated Post 29 in five games of the best-of-seven state championship series.

The following year, Caldwell County turned the tables, defeating Post 137 in five games for the state championship.

Caldwell County defeated Post 137 in the state championship series in both 1990 and 1991.

Whiteville, which got its first win of the season last Wednesday with a 14-10 road win over Hope Mills, had its Thursday away game with Fayetteville Post 4 postponed until June 19.

The Whiteville squad will resume Area 2-West League play on Wedneday when it travels to meet Pembroke at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Whiteville will entertain Hamlet in a 7 p.m. game.