By Heather Kent
Special to the News-Herald

Fifteen runs on 14 hits, with 16 runners left on base.

And those were the statistics for just the Nansemond Post 88 Indians.

During a 10-inning game that stretched over nearly four hours on Tuesday in American Legion baseball, the Indians scored their first win of the season, beating Post 327 by a score of 15-14 on a wild pitch that allowed Mike Parmentier to steal home.

“I am so proud of how they never gave up and kept their hearts and minds in the game right up until the end,” coach Jerry Kent said of his team. “I think our team really wanted this win, having lost to Post 327 on the opening day of the American Legion season two weeks ago.”

Parmentier led the night for the Indians, with four hits in six at-bats, scoring four runs, including the winner. He also pitched five innings with five strikeouts.

Jeff Knight also had a solid evening, with two hits in four at-bats and scoring three runs.

The weather, and the Indians’ chances, looked grim when Nansemond went down 6-0 to Post 327 in the top of the second inning, struggling with fielding errors in the pouring rain.

But then, the team began its fight back, posting three runs in the bottom of the second, starting with a two-run double by Daniel Kent, the team’s youngest player, hitting deep into right field with the bases loaded.

Post 327 scored four more runs in the top of the third, leaving the Indians behind by seven. Again, Nansemond bounced back, though, scoring four runs in the bottom half of the same inning, beginning with another two-run double, this time by Jeff Knight. The score was 10-7 at the end of three.

Nansemond then scored two more unanswered runs in the fourth inning, and another in the fifth, to tie the score at 10.

Nansemond went down by two runs again in the top of the sixth and by four runs in the top of the seventh, entering what would have been their last at-bat behind 14-10.

But the Post 327 centerfielder lost a towering fly ball by Shane McCaw in the lights, and Parmentier then hit a single to send McCaw home for the first run of the comeback. A walk to Jeff Knight and a single by Hunter Kiessling then scored Parmentier, and Knight followed.

Before the seventh inning was over, the Indians had loaded the bases again, but Post 327 was able to retire the last batter and leave those potential runs unscored.

Both teams were able to hold the 14-14 tie through the eighth, ninth and top of the 10th innings, but the strain began to show on the Post 327 pitcher, who loaded the bases with two walks and a struck batter, leaving the Indians an excellent opportunity with only one out.

That’s when Parmentier took advantage of the wild pitch, stealing home for the win and ending the game three hours and 45 minutes after it began.

“Many of the players didn’t even know each other’s names three weeks ago, but tonight these young men really came together as a team,” Kent said.