WADESBORO — JD Scarbrough’s job as the leadoff hitter is to get on base and he didn’t let a lingering hamstring injury stop him from doing his part Monday.
Jeremiah Ritter shouldered his responsibilities on the mound, too, going the distance for Post 49.
The Hamlet American Legion baseball team opened Area 2 Conference action at Wadesboro Post 446. Winning its third straight game, Post 49 silenced its opponent 9-1.
Scarbrough (Pitt Community College) connected for four of Hamlet’s nine hits, which featured a double and three singles. He also drove in two runs, which matched Riley Brown (Richmond) for a game-high.
Ritter (Richmond) made his third start of the summer and threw a gem for his second win. He threw a complete game on 100 pitches and held Wadesboro to just two hits.
With the strikeout pitch working, Ritter sat down nine batters via the punchout. His one run allowed was earned and he walked just one batter. Ritter retired Post 446 in order in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh frames.
Wadesboro took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, which would hold until the top of the third, on an RBI base hit.
Hamlet got on the board with four runs in the third, the first of its two four-run innings. Isaac Hinshaw (Richmond) tied the game with a base hit to the opposite field in left to score Maddox Locklear (Scotland, walk).
With the bases loaded, Brown unloaded for a two-RBI line drive single to left field. Crossing the plate were Austin Mooring (Union Pines, walk) and Hinshaw.
John Carre (Pinecrest) padded Hamlet’s lead with an RBI groundout for the second out to second base. Scoring from third was James Eason (Richmond), who also drew a free pass.
Scarbrough led off the top of the fourth with a single and later scored on an RBI groundout to third base by Evan Hodges (Richmond).
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Hamlet added four insurance runs. Dylan Tilson (Scotland) scored on a passed ball after he extended the inning by reaching on a dropped third strike.
On the next pitch, Scarbrough barreled up a double to the gap in center, bringing in Landon Taylor (Richmond, single) and Jacob Williams (Union Pines, walk) for two RBI.
An error on a Mooring fly ball to second base gave Scarbrough time to score his second run of the game for Hamlet’s final run.
A groundout and two more strikeouts by Ritter in the bottom of the seventh offered no rally attempt for Wadesboro.
Hamlet (10-4, 1-0 Area 2) returns home Wednesday to host Hope Mills Post 32 for a conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Game stats provided by Hamlet’s GameChanger app and Ryan Brown.
