HAMLET — The Hamlet baseball team rolled past Anson Orange 8-1 on Tuesday to bring its regular season to a close.
Steve James pitched 5.0 innings and struck out nine batters to earn the win, while Evan Hodges tossed the final 2.0 innings and added four strikeouts.
The Red Rams took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with the bases loaded. Hodges led off with a double, Hayden Wheeler reached on an error and Terande Spencer got to first after getting hit by a pitch.
Hodges scored on a passed ball to put Hamlet up a run, which wouldn’t score again until the fourth.
Four runs in the bottom of the fourth started again with the bases loaded with Hodges (error), Wheeler (HBP) and Spencer (single). With one out, Keith Cummings singled home Hodges and Wheeler.
Spencer scored on a passed ball and Cummings crossed home plate safely thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Zac Patton to make it a 5-0 lead.
With two outs in the fifth, Hodges’ bat got another big inning going, hitting a single to left field. Wheeler drew a walk and Spencer hit a two-RBI single down the left field line.
Pinch hitter Zamarion Robinson hit a single to left field to score Spencer for the Red Rams’ final run.
The Red Rams (9-1) earned the top seed in this year’s playoffs and will receive a first-round bye. Their only loss came to rival Rockingham Middle School before spring break.
Round two will be next Wednesday at home against an opponent that is to be determined following Monday’s playoff games.
Note: Coach Anthony Hailey submitted scores and details for this article. No other stats or information were reported by the time of publication.
Coaches can submit details to be published by emailing kpillar@richmondobserver.com.
