Post 76 falls at home to Kannapolis

Published 12:07 pm Wednesday, June 20, 2018

The Stanly County Post 76 American Legion baseball squad took to Don Montgomery Park’s field Saturday after a seven-day layoff.

Stanly hosted Kannapolis Post 115 after the two teams split non-divisional games earlier in the season. Post 76 topped Post 115 by a 7-2 margin on May 23 only to lose three days later on the road at Northwest Cabarrus High School 6-1.

Kannapolis scored six runs in the first two inning en route to a 7-1 win Saturday over Stanly.

Rohan Handa nearly went the distance on the mound for Kannapolis (5-4, 1-0 Southern Div.). He faced all but three of Stanly’s batters in the game, striking out nine and giving up three hits.

Jacob Allen took the loss for Stanly (5-10, 1-2), one of four pitchers Post 76 used in the game. A.D. McRae struck out three in two innings of work and did not allow an earned run, while Jamie Thomas and Ryan Baucom combined to pitch three scoreless innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Kannapolis jumped out quickly, taking advantage of early control problems for Allen. After hitting the first batter, who was caught stealing, Allen walked the bases loaded. Jacob Tuttle grounded out to first to score one run, then two more scored when Cord Butler singled up the middle, putting Kannapolis up 3-0.

Post 115 added three more runs on a three-run home run by Seth Morgan in the top of the second. Kannapolis added an RBI double from Mike Harrell in the top of the fourth to lead 7-0.

Stanly managed just two runners in scoring position in the first six innings, including Hunter Sells in the top of the second. He singled then reached second on an error but the next batter grounded out.

The other Post 76 runner to get past first came in the bottom of the sixth. Kolby Lamp walked and reached second on a wild pitch but got no further.

With two outs in the last of the seventh, Stanly ended the shutout bid for Kannapolis. Colton Austin singled to lead off the inning. After two strikeouts, he scored on a Jace Golden RBI double to center off reliever Tuttle. After Will Dagenhart was hit by a pitch, the next batter popped out to first to end the game.

Stanly is scheduled to travel to Mooresville on Thursday. Post 76 is on the road Saturday at Rowan County.

 

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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