Both Junior Legion Baseball teams found a way to make the routine difficult Wednesday night. Errors were numerous, the pitching unexceptional and the game lengthy, but in the end, Beaufort County preserved its place atop Area 1 with an 8-7 win over Albemarle Post 84.

Appropriately enough, it was an outfield blunder that gave the Pirates the walk-off victory. With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the seventh, Brantley Cutler, who entered the game in the fourth inning, blooped a shallow pop fly to left field. With the outfield in, the left fielder went to make a running catch, but the ball went just over his glove, scoring pinch runner Uriah Aaron for third base and improving the Pirates’ record to 9-3 (6-1 Area 1).

“I would say a lot of heart and a character-building win,” said head coach Glenn Marsh of his team’s performance. “We didn’t have our best stuff today and it was obvious. We were flat. Uncharacteristically, we made errors we haven’t made all year long. We didn’t pitch as well. Some of our at bats we weren’t patient enough. But once we got patient, put the ball in play in the middle innings, we put the pressure on their defense.”

Sloppy fielding was the story early on for Beaufort County, as starting pitcher Austin Roscoe received little help from his infield. Roscoe pitched four innings, allowing four hits, a walk and four runs, though none were earned.

After Roscoe retired the side in the first inning, the Pirates broke the score open in the bottom half of the frame with hits from Roscoe, Logan Little, Tripp Barfield and Drew Ferguson, but Post 84 would have its answer.

In the top of the second, a walk followed by a double down the left field line put two runners in scoring position with one out for the visitors. Roscoe fanned the next batter on four pitches, but an infield error at first base would clear the bases. The errors continued in the third inning for the Pirates and Post 84 plated another two runs, giving Albemarle a 4-1 lead.

“They played well and put pressure on us at the very beginning,” Marsh said. “We might have been a little shocked. We didn’t respond well in that second and third inning and made a few errors, but they never gave up.”

This time, in the fourth inning, it was Albemarle’s inconsistent fielding that opened the door for Beaufort County. An error at third was followed by a hard-hit Chase Sauls single and another error at shortstop. Pinch-hitting for Cody Godley, Tanner Alligood singled, scoring Ferguson, and Little followed with a single of his own, scoring Sauls.

After being down three runs early, Post 15 powered its way to a three-run advantage in the next inning, capitalizing on a lack of command from Albemarle reliever Noah Cartwright. Four walks, two wild pitches and a sacrifice fly from Cutler resulted in three runs for the host, tying the game at seven runs apiece.

Sauls, who relieved Roscoe in the fifth, pitched a perfect final two innings, as a Ferguson single, an infield error and an outfield error gave Beaufort County the walk-off win.

“We squared some balls up finally,” Marsh said. “I think the first guy settled in on us, but we made some adjustments, drew some walks and made them make defensive plays. They made a few errors themselves. If I had to characterize this game, it’s them refusing to lose. They had to dig in, look inside and find a way to win.”

Little finished the day 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Ferguson also picked up two hits.

Post 15 will host Windsor Post 37 in a double-header on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

“Everybody is gunning for us,” Marsh said. “We will get everybody’s best pitcher, everybody’s best effort.”