PEMBROKE — The first game of the American Legion baseball season didn’t go the way Hamlet Post 49 wanted it to go on Wednesday, but coach Chip Gordon said the opener was a good gauge for what areas the team needs to improve.
Playing at Cox Field on the campus of UNC-Pembroke, Post 49 fell to Wayne County Post 11 by a final score of 13-2 in five innings.
Hamlet registered just one hit, a two-RBI single by rising sophomore Jake Clemmons in the top of the fourth inning.
“It was good to get on the field and tonight was a good measuring stick of where we need to be for Friday and the rest of the season,” Gordon said. “When it comes down to it, we didn’t execute tonight and Wayne County did. That’s what it takes to win and we didn’t do it.
“Our one bright spot was Jake coming up and battling at the plate,” he added. “He hit the ball hard on the ground for a nice single to score our two runs. That’s what happens when you put the ball in play.”
Post 11 spread its runs out over the first four innings, scoring five in the first and four more in the second. Capping the scoring were three runs in the third and a solo tally in the fourth.
Rising senior Harley Honeycutt started for Hamlet on the mound, and he allowed nine runs on five hits. Honeycutt walked six batters and collected three strikeouts.
Trace Ricketts and Jacob Lomax both pitched an inning of relief in the third and fourth, respectively. Ricketts gave up three runs on two hits, while Lomax, a rising junior, allowed one run on two hits and struck out two batters.
“We didn’t pitch well, we fell behind batters all night, and when we were ahead, we got right back behind in the count,” Gordon explained. “Some nights, your pitching just doesn’t have it and that was the case tonight.
“But I’m proud of Harley for battling and he gave us two solid innings,” he added. “The same with Trace and Jacob, but we just couldn’t find the zone and overcome the early deficit.”
Gordon explained, too, that when balls were put in play, Post 49’s defense didn’t make enough plays behind the pitchers to keep the game close. Hamlet committed three errors.
In the bottom of the second inning, Hamlet center fielder Ra’Nes Little lasered a ball home to catcher Reid Edwards, who tagged out Sam Rice trying to score on a Braeden Collins single.
Hamlet catcher Reid Edwards tags out Sam Rice following a relay throw from center fielder Ra’Nes Little in the second inning. (Kyle Pillar)
Trailing 12-0 to start the top of the fourth, David O’Neal (hit-by-pitch) and Honeycutt (base on balls) reached safely with one out against relief pitcher Ben Peacock.
Following the second out, and with both runners moving into scoring position, Clemmons barreled up the first offering from Peacock. The hard grounder skipped into left field, allowing O’Neal and Honeycutt to race home.
On the night, however, Post 49 stranded four other runners on base and struck out 11 times.
“We didn’t take good swings, and that’s on us as a coaching staff. We need to teach our kids a better approach at the plate, which is something we’ll address,” Gordon said.
Wayne County collected nine hits in the win, two each coming from Collins, Rice and Justin Holland. Will Albert, Tanner Capps and Will Harris each had one hit.
“Today’s over with and we’ll spike up Friday night and get ready to play Wayne County again,” Gordon closed. “Josh Griggs will be on the mound, and guys like Kole Dutton, Jack Lange and Ethan McKay will be with us for the first time.
“The team will look a lot different, but that’s not saying we shouldn’t have been better than we were tonight.”
Hamlet Post 49 will host Wayne County Post 11 at Memorial Park in Hamlet on Friday for its home opener. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
