HAMLET — Almost two years after American Legion Post 49 baseball announced its return to Richmond County, the team will hold its official tryout this week.
Head coach Chip Gordon said the team will hold its only tryout on Saturday, June 5, at Memorial Park in Hamlet, starting at 10 a.m.
Post 49 baseball is making its return to Richmond County for the first time since 2007, and was originally set to play in 2020, but the pandemic canceled last summer’s campaign.
The team is open to interested players from Richmond, Scotland and Anson counties, and players can range from high school freshmen to college players who do not turn 20 during this calendar year.
There is no cost for players to join the program, but each player will only be responsible for his own glove, cleats and personal gear.
“It will be a pro-style tryout, and we’ll break players into position groups and give them reps at those positions,” Gordon, a former Richmond Senior High School and college baseball player, said. “Then we’ll have them take some swings in batting practice and determine our team from there.
“This is the only tryout,” he added. “I do understand high school teams are still playing their regular seasons, but if a player wants to play, he needs to be at the tryout.”
Gordon noted that any players who make the Post 49 team won’t be required to participate in any Legion baseball activity until their high school season is over.
Helping Gordon this summer will be assistant coaches Thomas Grooms, Anthony Hailey and Chaz Sessoms, all of whom will be a part of Saturday’s tryout.
Expecting a large number of players to try out, Gordon said there has been a lot of interest from Richmond County players, as well as Anson and Scotland counties. He said he believes the Post 49 program “will be able to develop a very competitive team.”
“The goal is to win,” Gordon said. “And as a coaching staff we want to develop each player into a better player, so when they leave at the end of the summer, they are more skilled than when they came to us.”
Hamlet’s Legion team also has a tentative 14-game regular season schedule in place, which will open on Thursday, June. 17. Seven of those games will be home contests at Memorial Park, while the others will be played on the road at other Area 2 teams.
The regular season will run through July 14, followed by the Area 2 Tournament from July 16-20. The annual American Legion North Carolina State Tournament will be held from July 27 through Aug. 1 in Cherryville.
“It’s great to have the schedule finalized, it’s the light at the beginning of the tunnel,” Gordon said. “Our guys will be playing the best competition they can play, outside of traveling outside of the state.
“Legion baseball is very competitive and we want to give our kids the opportunity to play and get better,” he continued. “We’re going to spike up and go pitch-for-pitch and at-bat-for-at-bat against whoever we play. We’re excited to see the fruits of all the hard work come to fruition.”
Following Saturday’s tryout, Gordon expects the Post 49 team to have about a week and a half of practice to get ready for its season opener.
Below is a tentative regular season schedule. All home games are denoted in bold and will be played at Memorial Park in Hamlet. Doubleheaders are marked with an asterisk.
Thursday, June 17 vs. Port City Post 545 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 19 @ Morehead City Post 46 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Big Rock Stadium) *
Monday, June 21 @ Hampstead Post 167 at 6 p.m. (Topsail High School)
Wednesday, June 23 vs. Wilmington Post 10 at 7 p.m.
Friday, June 25 @ New Hanover Post 10 at 7 p.m. (Legion Stadium, Wilmington)
Tuesday, June 29 vs. Pleasure Island Post 129 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 30 @ Wilmington Post 10 at 7 p.m. (Legion Stadium, Wilmington)
Friday, July 2 vs. Hampstead Post 167 at 6 p.m.
Monday, July 5 @ Port City Post 545 at 7 p.m. (Laney High School)
Thursday, July 8 @ Pleasure Island Post 149 at 7 p.m. (Ashley High School)
Saturday, July 10 vs. Jacksonville Post 265 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. *
Wednesday, July 14 vs. New Hanover Post 10 at 7 p.m.
