HAMLET — Everything aligned for the Hamlet American Legion baseball team Thursday, which led to Post 49’s first Area 3 Conference win this season.
After dropping its first three conference contests, Hamlet snapped a three-game skid with a mercy-rule win over Chatham County Post 292 at Memorial Field.
In conjunction with a complete game from starting pitcher Riley Brown (Richmond), Hamlet pelted the scoreboard to earn an 11-1 victory in six innings.
Brown capped off his pitching gem with a walk-off RBI single in the sixth to end the game early. It was part of a four-run bottom half of the inning.
Hamlet took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third before adding four runs in the fifth to lead by seven runs. Chatham County’s lone run came in the top of the sixth.
From the bump, Brown pitched six innings and limited Post 292 to just one earned run on three hits, while striking out six batters.
Brown retired Chatham County in order in the first frame, which was followed by three consecutive four-batter innings. He also recorded a 1-2-3 top of the fifth.
An early pitcher’s duel was broken open by Hamlet’s bats with a three-run third. A leadoff single by Gavin Jones (Purnell Swett) for Hamlet’s first hit was followed by a walk drawn by Brown.
After a fielder’s choice and error on a Jabari Douglas (Richmond) ground ball, Jacob Williams (Union Pines) recorded an RBI with a bases-loaded walk from starting pitcher Jayden Seawell (4.2 innings, seven runs, six hits). Scoring from third was courtesy runner Maddox Locklear (Scotland).
Garrett Manning (Scotland) reached on an error in the next plate appearance, which allowed both Douglas and Jason Walker (Richmond, fielder’s choice) to score and make it 3-0.
Striking for four runs in the fifth inning, Hamlet scored its next run when Manning connected for an RBI base knock into left field, scoring Collin Hill (Richmond, single).
With two away and runners on second and third, John Carre (North Moore) barreled a shot into left field for a two-RBI single. Courtesy runner Dylan Tilson (Scotland), running for Williams (error), and Manning both scored.
Chatham County went to the bullpen after Carre’s hit and reliever Anthony Lopossay surrendered a single to Jones that landed in left field, which scored Carre to cap the four-run frame.
Post 292 used a one-out base hit to center to plate its only run of the game a half inning later. Brown managed to strand two runners on base with a routine flyout to Carre in center to the next batter.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth, Hill (fielder’s choice) scored on a wild pitch. Leading 8-1, Hamlet scored two more runs when a throwing error to first on a Jones grounder allowed Williams (walk) and Manning (walk) to race home.
Two pitches later against reliever Brandon Rives, Brown looped the game-winning RBI single into shallow right field just out of reach of a diving fielder.
Carre had twos across the board with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Both Brown and Jones also connected for two hits and added an RBI each.
Post 49 (3-5, 1-3 Area 3) travels to play Lexington Post 8 Friday for a non-conference game. Held at The North Carolina Leadership Academy in Kernersville, the game will start at 7 p.m.
