ASHEBORO — An early lead during Sunday’s non-conference game for the Hamlet American Legion junior baseball team didn’t hold.
Playing at McCrary Park, Hamlet let a productive first inning go as the junior 49ers lost 15-5 in six innings to Randolph Post 45 Red.
All of Hamlet’s runs were scored in the first frame, while Randolph scored a run in the second, added eight runs in the third and ended the game early with its final six runs in the sixth.
Starting on the mound for Post 49 was Chase Woody, who threw three innings. He surrendered nine earned runs on eight hits and walked four batters.
Cameron Liles tossed 2.1 innings of relief and gave up four earned runs on five hits and four free passes. Cooper Gainey pitched the remainder of the game for Hamlet before Randolph reached the 10-run rule.
“We did have a better start to the game today,” head coach Anthony Hailey said. “But we have to be able to carry that momentum throughout the whole game.
“(Chase) Woody started strong, but we made some errors that we have to clean up,” he continued. “I do like the direction that we are headed as we get ready to start conference play.”
Post 49 used some two-out magic to take a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Steve James started the rally with an infield single and Noah Stubbs moved himself and James into scoring position with a double to left field, Hamlet’s only extra-base hit.
A balk scored James and Stubbs scored when Preston Fann ripped an RBI single to right field. Conner Phifer joined the hitting parade with a base knock to right field, one of Hamlet’s six hits in the game, to put runners on the corners.
Michael Osentowski added to the lead with an infield single to shortstop, plating Stubbs for an RBI. Hamlet’s final two runs of the inning, scored by Phifer and Osentowski, came courtesy of an error and a passed ball, respectively.
Despite the fast start, Hamlet would only get five more runners on base the next five innings. Osentowski drew a walk in the third, Colton Nelson singled in the fourth and Drew Gause reached on a fielder’s choice in the same inning.
Phifer and Osentowski reached on back-to-back base on balls with two outs in the fifth but were stranded following a strikeout.
The Hamlet junior team (0-3) will begin Area 2 Conference play Monday at home against the Hope Mills Post 32 Bears. First pitch from Memorial Park is set for 7 p.m.
