Home Local Sports Post 49 slides past Mocksville for second win of season

Post 49 slides past Mocksville for second win of season

Hamlet second baseman Tanner Cheek tags out Christian Brown (12) during Saturday's win.

HAMLET — Head coach Chip Gordon told the American Legion Post 49 baseball team last weekend that it would redeem itself following a loss to Mocksville Post 174.

Hamlet answered the call on Saturday, using a complete game from Cameron Way to earn a 5-3 win in its home opener.

Snapping a two game skid, Post 49 erased a three-run deficit and scored five unanswered runs off starting pitcher Dan Loyd (7.0 innings, five runs, five hits).

Way, who was coming off a big night at the plate following Friday’s game, found his groove in the later innings against Post 174. 

He allowed just three earned runs on four hits, struck out four batters and kept Mocksville scoreless in the final five innings. At one point, Way retired eight straight batters and threw just 10 pitches between the fifth and sixth frames.

Post 174 took an early lead in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs. Loyd had an RBI single to center, and was brought in by a double from Jackson Sink.

Another run in the top half of the second made it a 3-0 deficit for Hamlet. Blake Little singled home Parker Adderhold, who hit a two-out double.

Cameron Way fires a pitch during the third inning of his complete game on Saturday. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)

From that point on, it was all Hamlet. Jake Clemmons got Post 49 on the board in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly. Hitting a laser to the deepest pocket of right field, Clemmons brought in Ra’Nes Little, who hit a double to center field.

In the home half of the third, walks by Cooper Sessoms and Tristan Hunt, followed by a bunt single from Tanner Cheek loaded the bases for Way. Hitting a ground ball to third, Way recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice to second.

A throwing error trying to double up Way at first sailed high, giving Hunt the opportunity to race home and score the eventual game-winning run.

Advertisements
Jake Clemmons swings at a pitch that would result in a sacrifice fly in the second. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)

Way dealt a strikeout and got a fly out in the top of the fourth, and Sessoms hosed a runner trying to swipe second base to end the inning. Applying the tag was Cheek.

Retiring Mocksville in order in the fifth and sixth innings, Way got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Hunt led off the inning by reaching safely on an error and moved to second when Way was hit by a pitch.

Hunt stole third base on the next pitch and the throw was high, trickling down the left field line. That error moved Hunt 90 feet and across the plate.

Hamlet’s final run was manufactured using some smart base running. Kole Dutton reached on a one-out error, stole second and moved to third on an Ayden Allen single.

Allen took off for second and drew Loyd’s attention on the mound, forcing an errant throw into center field. Dutton scored on the miscue to give Post 49 a two-run lead.

With runners on first and second with two outs, a ground ball to Hunt at short in the top of the seventh sealed the deal. He scooped the ball up and moved to his left to step on second base.

Tristan Hunt, shown making an out at shortstop, scored the go-ahead run on Saturday. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)

Dutton’s two hits were a team-high for Hamlet, and Allen, Cheek and Ra’Nes Little all had one hit. Way notched two RBIs to help his cause on the mound, and Clemmons had the other RBI.

Post 49 (2-2) will look to get another win on Sunday with a home game against Matthews Post 235. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Memorial Park.

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Head coach Chip Gordon and Tristan Hunt, who scored the go-ahead run, break down Hamlet’s 5-3 win over Mocksville.



Previous articleDrivers test at Rockingham Speedway ahead of ‘Rock the Roval’ race
Next articleBlack bear hit, killed in Rockingham
Kyle Pillar is a 22-time North Carolina Press Association award-winning sports editor with The Richmond Observer. Follow the sports department on X @ROSports_ for the best in-depth coverage of Richmond County sports.