Jeff Linville | The News
East Surry’s Alec Wilson goes low to drive a single up the middle. He was 3-3 at the plate against West Stokes.
PILOT MOUNTAIN — East Surry fell to West Stokes 5-2, keeping the Wildcats firmly in first place in the conference.
The Cardinals had been on an eight-game winning streak and looked poised to draw within a game in the Northwest standings.
A win would have made the Cards 7-3 and West Stokes 8-2.
Instead, the Cards fall to 12-4 overall and 6-4 in the Northwest. The Wildcats improve to 12-2, 9-1 in the Northwest, with their only loss coming to Surry Central.
The Wildcats scored three runs in the first two innings, and the Cards couldn’t catch up against starting pitcher Jacob Craver.
West’s Jake Washer hit a sharp grounder to third that Cody Ashburn knocked down. In his haste to throw to first, the ball went wide and allowed Washer to scamper to second.
A passed ball put Washer at third, then Junior Snow drove the runner home with a sacrifice fly.
Then with two outs, Craver helped his own cause with a solo homer to the power alley in left for a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Gavin Goodson drew a one-out walk and David Hughart followed with an RBI double to right center.
The Cards answered in the bottom half of the second.
Alec Wilson, who was 3-3 on the night, hit a hard single to right. The outfielder mishandled the ball, allowing Wilson to reach third base.
Madison Chilton walked, and Cody Ashburn singled home Wilson, leaving runners at first and second.
East could have cut the margin further, but West Stokes made a good defensive play to end the inning.
Seth Brim hit a hard grounder up the middle, and the Wildcats were able to make the stop and turn a double play.
In the fourth inning, West Stokes added two more runs.
Hughart hit a 2-2 pitch up the middle for a single. Corbin Easter dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Hughart to second.
Washer singled to left, and Hughart held at third.
A passed ball put Washer on second base, and a single to right by Snow brought in both runners.
In the sixth, Scott Meredith led off with a walk and took second on wild pitch.
Drew Wilson struck out on a pitch in the dirt. On the throw to first base, Meredith advanced to third.
Alec Wilson’s third single drove in Meredith for a 5-2 score.
Wilson was stranded as Madison Chilton and Blake Marion struck out to end the inning.
Drew Wilson started the game and threw the first four innings. Cody Ashburn threw the last three innings.
Craver went six innings for West, then Snow threw the seventh.
The Cards have a nonconference game with Starmount today at home. Then they host South Stokes on Friday and before taking part in the ALS tournament Saturday at Mount Airy.
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