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Post 48 tops Post 155 for 2-0 lead in series

John M Setzler Jr.

Post 48’s Ryan Kelley throws to the plate during the first inning of Tuesday’s game with Kings Mountain.

By Mark Parker

Record Sports Correspondent

Published: July 1, 2009

NEWTON - Hickory Post 48 took advantage of early wildness by Kings Mountain Post 155 pitching to score eight runs in the first inning and coasted to an 11-2 win in the second game of the American Legion Area IV playoffs at Henkel-Alley Field on Tuesday.

The win gives Hickory a 2-0 lead in the first round best-of-five series. Game three will be held tonight in Kings Mountain.

Post 155 starting pitcher Brantley Blalock had difficulty finding the strike zone and Hickory was quick to take advantage. After Cameron Beard and Jacob Hoyle opened the inning with a pair of singles, Beard scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the game. Blalock proceeded to walk the next four Post 48 hitters, leading to two more runs.

Derek Hedrick then hit a line single to deep right field, just past right fielder Brian Brown to score J.W. Laney, with Robert McKinney being thrown out at the plate.

After an RBI single by Gage Ward, Blalock induced a potential double play ball to short. However, the throw by Chris Allen was wide of the bag at second, allowing Hedrick to score.

Beard chased Blalock from the game with a 2-run single to left.

That would be all Post 48 pitcher Ryan Kelley needed to coast for the win as he allowed two runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings pitched, striking out seven and walking four.

Kings Mountain scored a run in the third that may prove costly to Hickory long term. Jeff Howell reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a single by Rai Robinson. The next hitter, Dylan Smith, hit a bad hop single past Hedrick at third base to score Howell. Hedrick appeared to injure his shoulder in an attempt to field the ball and was removed after the inning. His status for the remainder of the playoffs is questionable.

Hickory added a run in the fourth as McKinney reached on a walk and scored on a pair of wild pitches.

Kings Mountain had several opportunities to score in the middle innings before Wes Shuford hit a pinch hit home run to right in the 6th inning to make the score 9-2. Post 155 had a chance to climb back into the game in the seventh inning as they loaded the bases with two outs. With Shuford at the plate with a 2-0 count, catcher Stefan Jordan caught Tyler Ross napping at first base and picked him off for the final out. Post 155 stranded 13 runners in the contest.

McKinney added a pair of runs in the seventh on with a double to compete the scoring.

The 1-2 hitters, Beard and Hoyle, combined to go 7–for-11 to lead the offense.

"Jacob (Hoyle) swings the bat real well," said Post 48 Coach Fore Rembert. He's a good situational hitter. He's young and he's way ahead of his time. That's why he hits in the two hole. Normally he'd be a three, four or five hitter, but with the way our lineup is. We try to get these guys in there a little more. He did a good job for us."

Jordan Lafone picked up the save for Hickory with 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball.