Post 29's run ends at Cherryville
Jul. 10—GRANITE FALLS — After winning the opening-round series over Gaston, Caldwell Post 29 was eliminated last Saturday night in the American Legion baseball playoffs.
Cherryville swept the 29ers 3-0 in the best-of-five quarterfinals.
"Bats went silent in the series," Post 29 manager Philip Hamby said on Monday, "which led to us getting put out. Just something that happens in baseball.
"Just happened at the wrong time."
Cherryville, at home, took the first game 2-1. At M.S. Deal Stadium, Post 29 lost 3-2 in nine innings.
Cherryville then took the quarterfinal on its home field 10-2.
"To sum up the series, pitching was great with Blake McElyea leading the charge," Hamby said. "He finished the season with a 1.6 ERA."
In the opener, Post 29 trailed 2-0 in the fourth. Its lone run crossed in the fifth when Ellias Morales plated Tristan Mearns.
Alex Sloan hurled 2 2/3 innings, getting touched for one hit and striking out one. Easton King worked three innings and served up two hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks.
McElyea closed the final 1/3 inning.
Cooper Critcher went 3 for 3 in the second game with an RBI. Mason Reising was 2 for 4.
McElyea was on the mound for seven innings, getting roughed up for nine hits with one earned run. He fanned seven and walked two.
Dylan Dula pitched two innings. He allowed one hit and on earned run, fanned one and walkd one.
Post 29 tied the affair at 2-2 in third. Cherryville scored the winning run in the ninth.
The deciding game saw Post 29 lead 1-0 in the first. Cherryville tied it in the second, before scoring four runs in both the third and fourth.
Davis Brown was 2 for 3 with and RBI. Zane Dorsey also drove in a run.
Spencer Orum worked 3 1/3 innings, serving up six hits with seven earned runs. He fanned four and walked three.
Alex Sloan took the hill for the final 2 2/3 innings, getting touched for four hits and allowing two earned runs with a pair of strikeouts.
"Very young group," Hamby said. "I believe everyone is eligible to return next year. The future is very bright."
The manager continued about the optimism.
"With the returning players, and rising players interested, we are already working on next year," Hamby said. "This group will be back making big noise next year."
