Chase Nelson scored on a wild pitch in the first inning and C.J. Luffman made a pair of clutch catches in left field to help Post 57 of Suffolk defeat Post 113 of Virginia Beach 1-0 in the Independence Day tournament at Nansemond River High School on Saturday. Kevin Parcetich pitched the entire game in his first outing for Suffolk, which raised its record in the tournament to 2-2 (they defeated Port 60 of Norfolk by forfeit on Friday).

With one out in the top of the first, Nelson hit into a fielder’s choice as his Lake-land High School classmate Robert Hedrick waited on first. Hedrick was forced out at second, but Nelson reached base and stole second a few pitches later.

After an error by 113 got Nelson to third, a wild pitch got past the 113 catcher, and Nelson took of for home.

&uot;When it got by him, I just went,&uot; Nelson said. &uot;I knew I’d be safe, because the ball went all the way to the backstop.&uot; He scored, and 57 had the only run it would need.

Though neither team threatened throughout the first four innings, 113 nearly stole a victory in both the fifth and the sixth.

Mark Guadognini and Garrett Parker made outs to open the 113 fifth, but Nathan Blake singled to right field. Parcetich walked Doug Ferguson and Steve Conyers on only nine pitches, and the team from Virginia Beach had loaded the bases. But Steve’s twin brother Scott lifted a 2-2 pitch to Luffman, and the inning was over.

After 57 went down in order, 113 tried to go back to work. Andrew Freidrich walked, and Matt Sullivan went in to pinch-run. Mike Alberto flew out to right field and Matt Farmer struck out, but an errant pitch struck Michael Conley in the side, and Parker banged a one-hopper into left field, loading the bases again.

Again, Luffman’s glove came to the rescue, as he made a charging snare of a line drive by Blake for the third out.

Parcetich didn’t let his opponents make things difficult in the seventh, as 113 went down in order, ending with a groundout by William Martin that Parcetich himself put away.

&uot;I was getting tired and losing my control in the last innings,&uot; said Parcetich, a member of the Smithfield High School team that won the 2002 Bay Rivers district title. &uot;My catcher, Matt Simms, got my through it, because he called a good game.

The lack of productivity at the plate was obvious to 57 coach Charlie Hardie, whose team managed only four hits (all in the first three innings), and got only one runner on base after the third inning.

&uot;We’re not hitting the ball or getting things done,&uot; said Hardie. &uot;I’ll take a win like this, but it was too nerve-wracking.&uot;