HAMLET — Playoff baseball will continue this weekend for the Hamlet American Legion baseball team as it tries to make it back to the state tournament.
With its first round sweep of Chatham Post 305 in the books, Hamlet is set for another best-of-three-games series in the Area 3 Conference playoffs.
Unlike the first round, teams will now play an opponent from the conference’s other division. The 49ers will face Rowan County Post 342.
Following a reseeding of the remaining playoff teams, Hamlet received the No. 5 spot in the North Division. Rowan, which plays in the South Division, grabbed the No. 1 seed.
For head coach Eric Brown and the 49ers, going into the second round as the underdog is a role they’re embracing.
Confidence is high in H-Town and the current five-game winning streak has put Post 49 in a competitive mindset, according to Brown.
“I like where we’re at,” Brown said. “We’ve started putting it all together here in the last couple weeks with pitching, defense and offense.
“Our guys are doing a really good job and it’s led to playing winning baseball late in the season leading into the playoffs, which is what you always hope for.”
Rowan, which carries a formidable reputation each summer, has a 25-3 overall record this season. A summer ago, Post 342 finished as the state runner-up.
In the first round of the playoffs, Rowan swept Mocksville Post 54 and outscored its opponent 22-1.
Not ignoring the level of talent Post 49 will face in round two, Brown said the main focus for the team remains on what the 49ers are capable of achieving while sticking to their identity.
“We know Rowan is a good team, but so are we,” Brown noted. “They’re traditionally one of the best teams in the state each summer and being runner ups in the state last year we know the type of challenge that is in front of us. But we’re not focused on them. We’re focused on our team and controlling what we can control and letting the scoreboard take care of itself.
“It doesn’t matter who we play, we’re going to approach it the same way and play our brand of baseball. We anticipate it being a great baseball atmosphere tomorrow night at South Rowan High School. Would love to see our community rally and show up big for these guys Saturday night at Memorial Park. Don’t let the 49ers get hot!”
Game one is set for Friday at South Rowan High School and game two is scheduled for Saturday at Memorial Park. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
If necessary, game three will return to South Rowan Sunday.
