BUIES CREEK — The scoring opportunities were plentiful for the Hamlet American Legion baseball team Thursday, but Post 49 wasn’t able to get the job done.
Closing its two-game non-conference series with the Garner Nationals, Post 49 suffered an 8-4 defeat.
Playing at Campbell University, it was the second time this season Hamlet fell to the reigning American Legion state champions. Earlier this month, Post 49 lost by a run at home.
Hamlet didn’t have any issue getting runners on base, as the team collected 10 hits, two more than Garner. But 14 runners left on base, coupled with four errors in the field, hindered the 49ers’ chances of evening the series.
“We just didn’t execute when we needed to tonight,” head coach Chip Gordon said.
Trailing 3-0 after two innings, Post 49 got on the board in the top of the third to cut its deficit to one run.
Maddox Locklear (Scotland) led off with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch. Evan Hodges (Richmond) put a ball in play to second base and reached on an error, which scored Locklear.
With two outs, Jon Westbay (Marlboro County) connected on an RBI single to left field to plate John Carre (Pinecrest), who reached earlier on a fielder’s choice. Westbay made his season debut for Hamlet following an injury to start the summer.
Trailing by a run, Hamlet gave up another run in the bottom of the third to see Garner’s lead increase to 4-2.
Starting on the mound for Hamlet was Hodges, who pitched 2.1 innings and gave up four earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Brady Fowler (Scotland) threw 3.2 innings in relief on a line of four runs (three earned), three hits and one K.
Hamlet left two runners on base in the top of the fourth and Garner struck for a three-run bottom half to break the game open. A wild pitch and a two-run single accounted for the three runs to make it 7-2.
Jacob Williams (Union Pines) recorded Hamlet’s third run of the game in the top of the sixth, an RBI double to left field. Scoring from first was Hodges, who drew a free pass.
A sacrifice fly in the home half of the six scored Garner’s eighth run. Trying to start a rally in the seventh, Hodges scored Westbay on an RBI single with two outs, but a grounder ended the game.
Locklear, Hodges, Riley Brown (Richmond) and Carter Bean (Pinecrest) all had two singles during the loss. Westbay added a hit and Williams’ double was the only extra-base knock.
Hamlet (7-4) returns home Friday to close its non-conference series with Mocksville Post 174. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Game stats provided by Hamlet’s GameChanger app and Ryan Brown.
