HAMLET — For the first time in 14 summers, the stands at Memorial Park in Hamlet were filled with fans to watch the American Legion Post 49 team play baseball on Friday.
Over 200 spectators were in attendance as Hamlet hosted Wayne County Post 11 in its home opener.
Post 49 dropped its second game in as many tries to start the summer schedule, surrendering a 17-1 loss in five innings.
Despite the outcome, head coach Chip Gordon said having Legion baseball back in the friendly confines of Memorial Park was a welcomed sight.
“It was exciting to see so many people in the stands and lining the hill,” Gordon commented. “This has been a long time coming and a lot of work has gone into this. I couldn’t be happier with the amount of people who came out and showed their support tonight.
“To make a successful comeback with this program, it’s going to take that kind of community support,” he added. “I wish we would have given them a better showing in our first home game, but we’re glad to be back playing baseball in Hamlet.”
Similar to Wednesday’s game, Wayne County had several high-scoring innings to put the game out of reach. Post 11 scored five runs in the first on Friday, followed by four runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth.
Ra’Nik Little got the start on the mound for Post 49, going 2.2 innings and giving up seven runs (five earned) on six hits. He struck out five batters and walked six.
Trace Ricketts pitched two innings of relief, and surrendered nine runs (four earned) on three hits and four walks. Ra’Nes Little rounded out the pitching effort, going a third of an inning and allowing one run on one hit.
“Our pitchers didn’t pitch out of good counts, and tonight was a lot like Wednesday’s game,” Gordon said. “It was better than the first game, and Ra’Nik gave us a great chance early on. If we fielded two ground balls, we could have been playing a 3-1 game in the fourth inning.
“There were a couple of times our defense was back on its heels waiting for strikes to be thrown, and when the ball was put in play, we weren’t ready.”
Hamlet committed four errors on the night, while also putting 12 runners on base via a walk.
Post 49 scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff batter Jack Lange stole home.
Lange, who joined the team for the first time this summer following playing in the high school playoffs earlier in the week, led off with a line drive single to center, one of Hamlet’s four hits.
Two batters later, Ethan McKay, Lange’s teammate at Union Pines High School, drew a one-out walk. On the first pitch to Ricketts in the next at-bat, McKay took off for second but was thrown out.
The throw down to second allowed Lange to race home uncontested, who led the team with two hits, both singles.
Ra’Nik Little and Harley Honeycutt also collected singles in the loss, while Hamlet stranded eight runners on base.
“We have a good team that can win games, but we have to play better baseball as a cohesive unit,” Gordon explained. “There is some selfishness in our baseball tendencies and we’re working that out.
“There is a lot of teaching and learning going on this summer. And we’ll get to where we want to be,” he closed. “Our goal is to head down to Wilmington and get our first win on Monday and finish the week at home Wednesday to improve to 2-2.”
Post 49 (0-2) will head to Topsail High School on Monday to begin Area 2 conference play against Hampstead Post 167. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
