ASHEBORO — A flare for the dramatic, especially in the later innings, was the tone of Hamlet Post 49’s extra-inning win Wednesday at McCrary Park.
After letting go of a three-run lead, Hamlet and Randolph County Post 45 traded blows for nine innings before Post 49 earned a 5-4 victory.
The Area 3 Conference game was Hamlet’s second conference win this season and extended the team’s winning streak to four straight games (not including Monday’s completion of an earlier suspended game).
Hamlet scored its first four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Randolph County chipped away with solo runs in the third, sixth and seventh frames to force extras.
Playing hero in his first start this season after an injury was Maddox Locklear (Scotland). Resorting to small ball in the top of the ninth inning, Locklear’s bunt back to the mound set the winning run in motion.
Caden Nolan (Richmond) was credited with the win on the mound with 3.2 innings of relief. His appearance followed a quality start by Jason Walker (Richmond), who tossed 5.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with five strikeouts.
Helping Nolan strand a leadoff double and the tying run at third base in the bottom of the ninth were outfielders Jabari Douglas (Richmond) and Collin Hill (Richmond).
With one out and the tying run at third, Douglas made a sliding catch in left field and got the relay back to the infield in time to stall the runner. A few pitches later, Hill laid out for a diving grab in right field for the final out of the game.
Randolph County took an early lead thanks to a solo home run in the second inning, which was answered by a four-run top of the third inning by Hamlet.
Easton Oxendine (Purnell Swett) and Hill each hustled out infield singles to start the inning off starter Drew Harmon (two innings, four runs, four hits). Oxendine tied the game when he raced in from third base on a throwing error by the catcher.
A bloop single by Garrett Manning (Scotland) and a walk to Locklear loaded the bases for Evan Hodges (Richmond), who drew a free pass to plate Hill.
Increasing the lead in the next at-bat was Nolan, who beat out a ground ball up the middle. Nolan’s hustle resulted in an RBI fielder’s choice that scored Manning.
Jacob Williams (Union Pines) recorded the final run of the frame and gave Hamlet a 4-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to left field. Tagging up from third was Locklear.
Post 45 used a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the third to cut its deficit in half. Walker kept the two-run lead by stranding two runners in scoring position with a lineout to Hodges at short.
Both teams left two runners on base in the fifth inning. Randolph County made it a one-run game in the sixth with an RBI single off reliever Dylan Tilson, who faced just three batters.
Entering the game with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth, Nolan got a strikeout and a 4-3 putout to end the threat and keep the lead at a run for Hamlet.
Adding to the dramatic element an inning later, a leadoff walk led to the tying run scoring on a passed ball for Post 45. Not rattled, Nolan coolly induced a ground ball for a 4-3 inning-ending double play to go to extra innings.
After both teams were retired in order in the eighth, Hill drew a one-out walk against reliever Braxton Walker (three innings, one run) and would prove to be the game-winning base runner.
Following a free pass to Manning in the next plate appearance, Locklear squared around and laid a bunt back to the mound. The well-placed slow roller didn’t credit him with an RBI, but it did help score Hill.
Opting for the fielder’s choice at third base, Walker made an errant throw. Popping up from the slide was Hill, who hustled in the final 90 feet to score the eventual game-winning run. Hamlet had the bases loaded with one away in the ninth but didn’t add to its lead.
In the end, the one run was enough for Post 49. Walker led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to left and later moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. The key defensive plays by Douglas and Hill put the win on ice for Post 49.
Finishing the game with a hit apiece were Manning, Hodges, Nolan, Oxendine and Hill. Hodges, Nolan and Williams each recorded one RBI.
Hamlet (6-6, 2-4 Area 3) has another away game Saturday against non-conference Garner. The game will be played at Triton High School and start at 1 p.m.
