HAMLET — A better approach as a team with more energy powered the Hamlet American Legion baseball team to a win Friday.
Riley Brown (Richmond) also said playing at home for the first time this season played a crucial role in Post 49’s first victory of the season.
After dropping a doubleheader Sunday to start the season, Hamlet regrouped with a week’s worth of practice.
The work paid off as Post 49 defeated non-conference Anson County Post 446 in six innings by a final score of 11-1.
Nearly doubling its run total from its first two games, Hamlet brought the bats against the Tigers. Belting a dozen hits, Post 49 had three players with multiple runs batted in — Brown (3), Isaac Hinshaw (Richmond, 2) and Garrett Manning (Scotland, 2).
Collin Hill (Richmond) was the fourth 49er to add to the offensive production, finishing the game with an RBI.
Starting pitcher Jason Walker (Richmond) said he made some adjustments since his last outing and earned the win Friday. He threw five innings and allowed just one unearned run on three hits with seven strikeouts.
Walker retired the first six batters he faced in order, including striking out the side on 11 pitches in the second inning. Two of his other three innings pitched were four-batter frames.
Closing the door in the sixth inning was Dylan Tilson, who worked out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs. Eliminating the threat, Tilson got a pop out to Manning at second base for the third out.
Hamlet started the scoring with some two-out lightning in the bottom of the second inning. Manning barreled a two-RBI double to center field, scoring John Carre (North Moore, double) and Easton Oxendine (Purnell Swett, error).
Anson County got a run back in the top of the third inning after an error and a single resulted in a successful squeeze play.
Putting up two more runs in the home half, Evan Hodges put one of his three free passes to work when he scored on a passed ball. Hinshaw recorded the first of his two RBI when he dropped an RBI single over the shortstop’s glove in shallow left field to plate Brown (error).
Walker allowed the first two batters to reach safely in the fourth inning, but used a fielder’s choice to get the lead runner at third base and a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play to preserve the three-run lead.
Post 49 broke the game open with four runs in the home half to jump ahead 8-1. Brown registered his first RBI with a base hit to left field, scoring courtesy runner Jabari Douglas (Richmond), who was running for catcher Jacob Williams (single).
The next run came on a throwing error when Brown tried to initiate a double steal with Hodges (walk) on third base. After Brown got back to the bag safely, Hodges bolted for the plate and scored on an errant throw from first base.
With two outs, Hinshaw hustled out a triple that rolled to the right field corner. Scoring on the play was Brown. Hamlet’s final run of the home half was the result of a single by Hill to center field in the next at-bat, easily scoring Hinshaw.
Two-out singles by Hodges and Caden Nolan (Richmond) led to Brown’s final two RBI an inning later. On the first offering from relief pitcher Hunter Ratliff, Brown lasered a base knock into center field to score both runners.
After Tilson’s scoreless top of the sixth, Hodges ended the game early with two outs when his fly ball to left field found the outfield grass on an error. Trotting in from third base was Manning (fielder’s choice).
Four of Hamlet’s 12 hits went for extra bases — Hinshaw had a triple, while Carre, Manning and Nolan each had a double. Brown, Hill, Hinshaw and Nolan led the team with two hits apiece.
Hamlet (1-2) will have off until Tuesday when it travels to Anson County (0-4) to finish the two-game non-conference series. The game will be played at Anson High School and start at 7 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: The Richmond Observer will publish photo galleries of the home opener festivities and Post 49’s win over Anson soon.
