PLAYOFF PREVIEW: No. 2 Hamlet to face No. 3 Eastern Randolph in opening series

Our ultimate goal is to make it back to the state tournament, and in order to do that, we need to check off one box at a time. And that starts with game one.”

Chip Gordon - Head Coach

Best-of-3 Game Series Starts Saturday

Hoping to get back to the state tournament for the second time in as many seasons, Hamlet's playoff run begins Saturday at Memorial Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

HAMLET — Summertime baseball will continue for the Hamlet American Legion baseball team when the postseason begins Saturday.

With the final standings in the North Pod 2 Division set, No. 2 Hamlet will face No. 3 Eastern Randolph Post 81 in the first round of the Area 3 Conference tournament.

During the final week of the regular season, Post 49 and head coach Chip Gordon won three of their final four games to go from being on the outside looking in to hosting a first round series.

With six teams in the North Pod 2 Division, four made the postseason — No. 1 Randolph County, No. 2 Hamlet, No. 3 Eastern Randolph and No. 4 Chatham County. 

The two teams which didn’t make it were Aberdeen Post 72 and Moore County Post 12.

“We’re feeling really good going into the playoffs,” Gordon said. “The guys have been playing some of their best baseball lately and that’s a good thing to carry over into the postseason. We’ve been hungry, and as a coach, I love to see that.

“The good thing with the playoffs is that everything resets,” he added. “Every team has a 0-0 record and is fighting one game at a time. Our ultimate goal is to make it back to the state tournament, and in order to do that, we need to check off one box at a time. And that starts with game one.”

During the regular season, Hamlet and Eastern Randolph split their two-game division series with the home team winning each game. Hamlet also defeated Post 81 7-1 during the Hall of Fame Classic early in the season.

The first division meeting was a rain-suspended game that was later completed, which resulted in a 6-2 loss for Post 49. That was followed by another 7-1 victory this past Sunday.

Entering the postseason, Hamlet (11-7) has won seven of its last nine games. Eastern Randolph (7-10) will go into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak.

The best-of-three game first round series will start at Hamlet Saturday, followed by game two at Eastern Randolph High School Sunday. If needed, game three will be played at Hamlet Monday.

All games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start time.