PINETOWN — The script has been just about the same all season for Beaufort County Post 15. Defense has kept opponents at bay, allowing the Pirates to settle in at the plate and get key hits. It was no different Friday night at Northside when they topped Wilson Post 13, 5-1, to improve their perfect start to 6-0.

The Pirates’ pitching and defense robbed Wilson of momentum throughout the evening. Wilson got a pair of hits right away in the top of the first inning, but Beaufort County threw out a runner at third. Pitcher Parker Boyd then fanned a batter and induced a groundout to shortstop Cody Godley to hold the visitors off the scoreboard.

“They were very focused tonight,” coach Glenn Marsh said of his team’s defense. “I think, all around, it was our best game of the season so far. We’ve been looking forward to that. I still think we can play better. We’re breaking the bats out. We’re getting hits. Tonight was a very well-played ball game by Post 15.”

Logan Little gave the offense a quick spark in the bottom of the frame. He led off with a single and promptly stole second. Little came across on Godley’s RBI single down the right-field line, giving the Pirates an early 1-0 edge.

The early lead, no matter how marginal, adds to the Pirates’ confidence on the mound and in the field.

“We’re always focused on trying to win the first inning,” Marsh said. “I think it relaxes everybody. We did come out and get a couple of hits right off the bat. The first inning is critical.”

The game progressed quietly for both offenses until a four-run third inning for the Pirates. They loaded the bases with one out after Matt Black was hit by a pitch, Little singled to right field and Austin Roscoe drew a walk.

That set up Godley to drill a two-RBI single up the middle that plated Black and Little. A sacrifice-fly RBI by Drew Ferguson scored Roscoe. Godley scored on Tripp Barfield’s groundout to second to push Beaufort County’s lead to 5-0.

Wilson responded with a run in the top of the fourth, but that would be all the visitors would get.

Barfield took over pitching duties in the fifth and closed out the game. He took no time to settle in as he struck out two of the four batters he faced in a quick frame. Little robbed Wilson’s leadoff batter of a base hit with a diving catch in right field.

“That was just an unbelievable effort,” Marsh said. “Leading off an inning, it looks like a base hit all the way and he steals it and takes it away. That’s a SportsCenter top-10 play.”

The Pirates went three up, three down in the fifth stanza. Barfield and the defense behind him were able to neutralize Wilson’s offense after consecutive no-out singles. Wilson, hoping for a seventh-inning comeback, only sent four batters to face Barfield.

“I asked Parker to go out there and get us at least halfway through the game. He did a great job,” Marsh said. “He was very poised. He threw a lot of strikes and pitched to contact and let the defense back him up. He kept them off balance. His off-speed stuff was working, so he had them out on their front foot.

“Then Tripp came in and threw a little bit harder. Again, throwing strikes and pitching to contact. They know the defense is back there. I think, for pitchers, that’s extremely important. They know they can get up there and throw strikes.”