HAMLET — Save for an inning full of hiccups Wednesday, the Hamlet American Legion junior baseball team outplayed the Hope Mills Tigers.
Despite out-hitting Post 32 by eight hits, a late-game rally attempt fell short for Hamlet Post 49 in its series opener with its Area 2 Conference opponent.
Leading by two runs after three innings, Hamlet allowed a 10-run top of the fourth inning and lost 14-11.
Head coach Anthony Hailey said although there were several times the big inning could have been avoided, he said he was satisfied with Hamlet’s fast start and adjustments at the plate, as well as the team’s effort to try and complete the comeback.
“We started fast tonight and Michael (Osentowski) threw strikes,” Hailey commented. “We were on their pitching and the guys were bouncing around, putting the ball in play. Then we had that one inning with some errors and bad throws that cost us. (Hope Mills) was able to score a bunch of runs off walks.
“The guys swung the bats well tonight and made good adjustments,” he continued. “(Hope Mills) threw three different pitchers at us and we adjusted well to each of them. We just have to find a way to hit the ball more on a line like Steve (James), Preston (Fann), Ashton Phifer and several others did tonight.”
Osentowski was Hamlet’s starting pitcher and opened the game by stranding a runner in the top of the first. Post 49 gave him some run support in the home half, courtesy of a two-run triple by Fann, his third three-bagger of the season.
Drew Gause and James rattled two-out singles off starter JQ Campbell (three innings, four runs, five hits) to extend the inning. Fann collected the first two of his team-high three runs batted in with a triple that bounced around in the right field corner.
A leadoff walk for the Tigers to start the second, one of nine issued by Osentowski (three innings, eight runs, two hits), later scored on a passed ball.
Phifer added another run to Hamlet’s lead in the bottom of the second, lasering an RBI triple to the alley in right-center field. Scoring from first base was Julius Bowden, who reached via a bunt single, one of Hamlet’s 12 hits.
Another passed ball resulted in a run for Hope Mills in the top of the third, but Fann answered back half an inning later by scoring on a Campbell pitch to the backstop. Fann reached earlier in the inning on a throwing error.
The Tigers took advantage of six base on balls, three errors, two hits, two wild pitches and a sacrifice fly to score their 10 runs in the top of the fourth.
Coming into the game to pitch for Hamlet during the fourth was Cooper Gainey. He inherited the bases loaded with no outs and Post 49 trailing 5-4.
Gainey would go the rest of the way on the mound, throwing four innings of relief. He gave up six runs on two hits and four walks, while also retiring Post 32 in order in the top of the seventh to carry over Hamlet’s late-game momentum.
After allowing the big inning, Hamlet’s bats scraped away to cut its deficit to 12-7. Post 49’s three runs in the fourth all came with two outs, which started with Jabari Douglas (walk) scoring on a passed ball.
James, who had three hits to match Fann for the team lead, barreled up a line drive single to center field in the next at-bat off reliever Koltyn Ziegler (one inning, two hits, four runs). Scoring from third was Gause (walk).
Fann kept the inning going by recording his third RBI of the game with a hard ground ball single through the left side of the infield to score James.
Gainey faced just four batters in the fifth. Keith Cummings was hit by a pitch to start Hamlet’s half and courtesy runner Tristan Chavis tagged up from third base later in the inning after Phifer flew out in foul territory deep down the right field line.
Colson Smith, who singled on a line drive to left field earlier in the inning, was left on base, one of eight total runners stranded by Hamlet in the game.
Trailing 12-8, Hamlet surrendered two runs in the sixth to see its deficit grow to six runs. Post 32 scored using a two-out, two-RBI single.
Keeping things interesting, Post 49 scored two more runs in the sixth. James singled home Gause (HBP) with a liner to center and Cummings recorded an RBI with a fly ball single to shallow center.
Gause plated Hamlet’s final run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to center. Racing in from third was Bowden, who singled back up the middle to start the inning. With the tying run at the plate, Hamlet’s comeback ended on a fly ball.
“Cooper, who is one of our younger guys and a rising eighth grader, came in and pitched a great game for us in relief,” Hailey closed. “I’m proud of him and our younger guys are starting to find the game speed where we want them to play.
“I think we have a bright future for later in the season. Right now we’re going to keep battling and keep pushing forward.”
Following an off day, Hamlet (1-5, 1-2 Area 2) will round out its two-game series with the Post 32 Tigers Friday. The game will be played at South View High School and start at 7 p.m.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Wednesday’s game soon.
