WILMINGTON — After two days of rain delays, the Hamlet Post 49 baseball team got its Area 2 postseason tournament started on Tuesday.
No. 5 Hamlet fell to No. 1 Wilmington Post 10 by a final score of 7-2 in game one of the best-of-five series. The two teams played at Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium.
Head coach Chip Gordon said despite the series-opening loss, he was pleased to see the fight the 49ers put forth.
One thing he said has to change is taking advantage of having runners in scoring position.
In four of the seven innings played, Hamlet got its first two batters on base but wasn’t able to turn them into high-scoring frames.
Ra’Nik Little pitched four innings for Hamlet, and Ra’Nes threw the final two innings.
Post 49 scored its first run in the top of the first thanks to a Josh Griggs single, which scored Ra’Nes, who led off the inning with a single.
In the seventh inning, a bases-loaded walk plated the 49ers other run with one out.
“I thought we played well,” Gordon said, “but we have to finish the innings if we want to win. We’re going to be ready to play and tie the series on Wednesday.”
Gordon said Trace Ricketts, who recently committed to Cleveland Community College, will start on the mound in game two.
The second game of the series will be played in Hamlet on Wednesday, followed by game three back on the road in Wilmington on Thursday.
Both games will begin at 7 p.m. and the cost is $7 per person for Wednesday’s home game.
