HAMLET — Digging deep in the later innings Tuesday, the Hamlet American Legion baseball team punched its ticket to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in two seasons.
An early lead for Post 49 was followed by a three-run deficit in the middle innings. Thanks to a rally in the fifth inning, No. 5 Hamlet earned a postseason sweep over No. 4 Chatham Post 305.
For the first time in four meetings this season, the home team won between Hamlet and Chatham. Post 49 won 7-5 and eliminated Chatham from the Area 3 Conference playoffs.
“It wasn’t our best game of the season in terms of pitching or defense, but when it mattered, the guys made big plays,” head coach Eric Brown said. “You never like to be down on the scoreboard late in games, but the guys rallied together to scratch out enough runs to get the win.
“A sweep is beneficial for us as we continue in the playoffs,” he added. “It’s an extra day of rest for everyone and we are able to conserve our pitching. The credit goes to the guys for not quitting and believing in each other.”
Hamlet led 2-0 after the first inning, but a four-run top of the second inning resulted in a two-run deficit. Chatham’s largest lead of the game was 5-2 when it scored a solo run in the third.
Post 49 answered with a run of its own in the third. Able to keep Post 305 scoreless in the fourth and fifth frames, Hamlet’s bats scored four runs in the fifth to take the lead for good.
Caden Nolan (Belmont Abbey College) pitched five innings and earned the win thanks to that four-run stanza in the fifth by Hamlet. He allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out eight batters.
Credited with the save, Jabari Douglas (Johnson & Wales University) pitched the final two innings. He allowed just one hit and also struck out a batter.
Chatham starting pitcher Jaedyn Rader struggled with his command in the first inning and hit Evan Hodges (Lenoir Community College) and Drew Gause (Richmond) with a pitch.
With two outs, Bradley Hogan (Christ the Cornerstone Academy) gave Hamlet a 2-0 lead when he sent an opposite-field double down the line in right. Douglas, courtesy running for Hodges, and Gause both scored.
An RBI fielder’s choice resulted in Chatham’s first run in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, an error in the outfield resulted in three runs to make it 4-2.
In the top of the third, an RBI double with two outs extended Post 305’s lead to 5-2.
Helping himself and the team out, Nolan barreled up a two-out double in the bottom of the third. Gause, who had four runs batted in in game one, recorded the first of his game-high three RBI in the next at-bat.
On the third offering from Rader, Gause blooped an RBI single between the shortstop and center fielder behind second base. Colton Nelson (Richmond), running for Nolan, scored from second to close the gap to 5-3.
Nolan stranded runners on the corners in the fourth, using a 6-3 putout by shortstop Miken Concepcion (Christ the Cornerstone Academy) to end the inning.
The fifth inning saw Chatham load the bases with two away, but Nolan kept Hamlet within striking distance when he got a strikeout to end the threat.
Hodges (walk), Concepcion (double) and Nolan (walk) started the pivotal bottom of the fifth by loading the bases with no outs.
Gause tied the game one pitch into his at-bat when he rifled a hard ground ball through the right side of the infield. Tristan Chavis (Richmond), running for Hodges, and Concepcion scored, the latter of whom slid head first around a tag attempt.
A double steal by Nolan and Gause was followed by a one-out walk to Maddox Locklear (Richmond). With two away and facing relief pitcher Brett Phillips, Julius Bowden (Richmond) played hero.
After fouling off three straight pitches, Bowden connected on a two-RBI line drive single to left field to put Hamlet up for good. Nolan and Gause each raced home for the go-ahead runs to make it a 7-5 lead.
Douglas faced five batters in the top of the sixth and left two runners in scoring position. For the final two outs, Hodges fielded a bunt and fired to first, and Hogan picked a hotshot grounder at third for the 5-3 putout.
With runners on the corners in the top of the seventh and two away, Douglas sealed the sweep when he got a pop out to Concepcion at short to end the game.
Getting the inning started on a strong defensive note, Nate Culbreth (Richmond) made a run-saving diving catch in left field for the first out.
Hamlet (7-7) will begin the second round of the Area 3 Conference playoffs Friday.
Brown explained the eight remaining teams, four from the North Division and four from the South Division, will be reseeded.
At the time of publication, the new playoffs brackets, times or locations have not been released.
