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Area 3 playoffs

Post 45 Josh Meadows catch July 9 2023

Moving on: Post 45 set for Area 3 semifinals series

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Randolph County Post 45 first baseman Josh Meadows makes a catch against Davidson County Post 8 with catcher Grat Dalton looking on in Game 1 of that playoff series. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Randolph County Post 45 is moving on to the semifinals of the Area 3 playoffs and it shapes up as a significant showdown.

Post 45 (21-3) and Rowan County Post 342 (32-3) will match up in a best-of-5 series beginning Thursday night at Catawba College in Salisbury.

Monday night at Lexington, Post 45 won 6-1 vs. Davidson County Post 8 to complete a sweep of the best-of-3 first-round series. Tanner Marsh homered, Connor Adams scored two runs and Samuel Asbill pitched six innings with eight strikeouts without issuing a walk.

Rowan County, which was the South Division regular-season champion, already had a spot in the semifinals based on Foothills Post 123 forfeiting the first-round series.

Randolph County was the second-place team in the North Division.

Post 45 and Post 342 played three times during the regular season, with Randolph County winning the final two of those meetings. Each team had a one-run victory and Post 45 also won 10-5.

Game 2 comes Friday night at McCrary Park in Asheboro with Game 3 back in Salisbury on Saturday night. If necessary, the fourth and fifth games are set for Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Last year, Rowan County defeated Randolph County in the Area 3 final.

In the other semifinals series, High Point-Thomasville Post 87 meets Kannapolis Post 115.

Post 45 in final at Newman Park

Post 45 falls in Area 3 final, but lessons could turn fruitful

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SALISBURY – Something good might have come out of the Area 3 championship game for Randolph County Post 45, the losing part aside.

“It’s just a reality check that we can lose,” left fielder Adam Cole said.

Post 45 hadn’t been in a competitive game in more than three weeks, then didn’t execute well in numerous tight spots in Friday night’s game at Newman Park. Rowan County never trailed in a 6-4 decision.

The outcome halted a 12-game winning streak, but there’s plenty still ahead for Randolph County.

“It’s good for us to get the opportunity to see some of the pitching and go against some hitters like we’re going to see,” said Trey Way, who started on the mound. “Now we know what we need to do.”

Post 45 (27-9) is set to open pool play in the state tournament Tuesday night against host Fuquay-Varina Post 116, which is the defending champion. The tournament concludes July 30.

Regardless of the outcome in the states, Randolph County has a spot reserved for the Southeast Regional, which will be contested Aug. 3-7 at McCrary Park in Asheboro. The state champion – or runner-up if Post 45 wins – also heads to the regional.

Rowan County (34-7) repeated as Area 3 champion.

“You can’t go out there and go through the motions,” Post 45 manager Ronnie Pugh said, “We had every opportunity. Those things come back to bite you.”

Rowan County provided an upgrade in competition, something that Randolph County is bound to encounter on a regular basis the rest of the way.

“Seeing better pitching is probably a plus for us going into the state tournament,” Post 45 right fielder Blake Marsh said. “That’s something we might need.”

Rowan County touched Way for two runs in the first inning and two more in the third. He was lifted after 2 1/3 innings.

“That’s the first game I had my stuff and they just overmatched it sometimes and got barrels on it,” Way said.

Tanner Marsh moved from shortstop to pitch the rest of the way for Post 45.

But the real strife for Randolph County came with botched opportunities.

Still, with loading the bases with no outs in the seventh, there was a chance they could pull it out. Instead, Blake Marsh popped out before Way’s walk forced in a run. On the next pitch, Tyler Parks’ dribbler back toward the mound resulted in a game-ending 1-2-3 double play.

That capped the frustration for what Blake Marsh called a “very winnable” game on the Catawba College campus, where he attends.

The offensive frustrations began earlier for Randolph County. Way led off the second inning by smashing a ball off the left-field wall, reaching third base in time but called out when he popped off the bag after his slide.

Post 45 got on the board when Parks beat out a two-out infield single in the fourth. Randolph County closed within 4-3 in the fifth, with Tanner Marsh’s double and a fielding blunder resulting in runs. Then there were runners at second and third with no outs, but reliever Casey Gouge struck out Blake Marsh, Way and Parks to douse the threat.

Tatum Marsh racked up three hits and Braylen Hayes was credited with two hits for Randolph County.

While winning the 12 games in a row, there wasn’t a result closer than a 9-0 score for Post 45. This ought to get the players’ attention.

“For (states and) regionals, I think it’s not a terrible thing,” Cole said.

Post 45 came off three routs shortened by the mercy rule in the best-of-5 semifinals against Kannapolis after sweeping a best-of-3 quarterfinals series against Mooresville. It might be time to tune-up with more at-bats with game pressure and additional time on the mound for fine tuning.

“We’ve got a lot of people who needs a little bit of work,” Pugh said.

Randolph County lost to Fuquay-Varina twice in the regular season, so being in that pool figures to be a challenge. Hope Mills and Cherryville are also in Post 45’s pool among the eight-team field.

Post 45 Tanner Marsh pitching

Right on time: Post 45 hits stride

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Tanner Marsh has been a key factor as a shortstop and pitcher for Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Randolph County roars into postseason on hot streak

ASHEBORO — It took a little time for Randolph County Post 45 to figure it out.

The timing, though, is ideal.

The American Legion baseball team has been riding a hot streak that began with the second part of the regular season and has extended into the postseason.

“We’re coming together as a team and understanding how to play with each other,” outfielder Adam Cole said.

That tends to be the sentiment.

“We started connecting,” said shortstop Tanner Marsh. “Really got to know each other. Just being around each other and getting to know each other makes baseball more fun.”

Randolph County is 27-8 and secured a spot in the North Carolina state tournament by sweeping Kannapolis Post 115 in a best-of-5 Area 3 semifinal series, capped with Monday night’s 15-2 road victory. 

Post 45 has won 17 of 19 games after a rather mundane start to the season.

There’s a winner-take-all Area 3 title game vs. Rowan County at 7 p.m. Friday at Catawba College in Salisbury. The state tournament is next week in Buies Creek.

Post 45 manager Ronnie Pugh has finally had roster stability, something that has taken time.

Outfielder Braylen Hayes and utility player Trey Way arrived from Randleman’s Class 2-A state championship team. First baseman Josh Meadows is on board after a broken hand during the high school season with Asheboro. Third baseman Tyler Parks out of Southwestern Randolph missed the Area 3 quarterfinal series last week because he was with a travel ball team, but he’s on board the rest of the way with Post 45.

“Our team chemistry is there,” said Parks, who missed about 10 of Randolph County’s games. “The more we play together, the more we learn about each other.”

Way had been with the High Point Hushpuppies in the Old North State League, a college summer circuit, last month. But the rising Virginia Tech freshman said his college coaches wanted him to get more plate appearances, so switching to Post 45 made sense.

“We have a lot of good players,” Way said. “It just took a couple of games to learn to play together. I think it’s clicking now, so I can’t wait to watch what this team can do.”

Pitcher Grant Little out of Trinity has been dealing with a shoulder ailment, but the pitching staff otherwise looks rather stocked.

Pugh said he hopes a challenging schedule has prepared Post 45 along the way.

“We played probably our best schedule we’ve ever had, and that might have played into it,” he said of some of the early defeats.

Cole, a returning player with Post 45, said it was a bit startling with how the opening weeks of the season went.

“I didn’t expect that at all,” he said, then noting the turnaround. “This is Post 45 baseball right here.”

Now it’s a matter of keeping it going.

“I don’t want to get our heads too big,” Tanner Marsh said.

 In cruise control

Randolph County won three games shortened by the mercy rule in the best-of-5 semifinals, topping Kannapolis by 11-1 and 12-0 at McCrary Park on the weekend.

In Monday’s series clincher, Blake Marsh was the winning pitcher in his first start on the mound this season. Marsh also drove in two runs along with Hayes, Drew Harmon, and Tatum Marsh.

In Saturday night’s Game 1, Hayes went 3-for-4, and Tanner Marsh, who pitched five innings, homered. 

On Sunday night, Hayes smashed a grand slam in a 10-run third inning, drilling the first pitch from Kannapolis reliever Jack Brandle. Starting pitcher Robert Garner allowed one base runner in four innings. Hayes and Harmon each had two hits.

In the quarterfinals, Post 45 rolled to 14-0 and 9-0 victories against Mooresville Post 66 in the best-of-3 series. Due to field availability in Asheboro, Game 1 was played at Mooresville, with Post 45 using Way’s 3-for-4 effort at the plate along with four runs batted in from both Harmon and Tanner Marsh. Garner threw four innings, and Hayes worked the fifth to complete the five-inning romp.

In Game 2 at McCrary Park, Randolph County rode the pitching of Way, Blake Marsh, and Connor Adams to secure another shutout and clinch the series. Blake Marsh supplied a three-run triple in the second inning after Post 45 scored twice in the first inning on Tanner Marsh’s run-scoring double and Way’s RBI single. Cole and Tatum Marsh had two-out singles in the third to stretch the gap to 8-0. Carson Whitehead’s single drove in a fifth-inning run.

ER_Evans

Progress defines Post 81’s bounce back

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Eastern Randolph Post 81 catcher Parker Evans tags out Stanly County’s Chance Hunt during an Area 3 playoff game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Eastern Randolph rediscovers winning ways in breakthrough season

RAMSEUR – Aside from the awkward ending, Eastern Randolph Post 81 put together a season that could set the foundation for the American Legion baseball program.

That would make this year’s efforts well worth it for a team that had endured some tough times in recent seasons.

“Our main goal was we wanted to bring life back to 81 baseball,” said first-year head coach Nate Cockman.

Consider that accomplished.

“It’s a different energy, for sure,” said third baseman Carson Rickman, who was also on the 2021 team. “I didn’t have great expectations because of last year.”

Eastern Randolph won two playoff series before forfeiting the Area 3 best-of-5 semifinals, which were slated to begin Saturday. Cockman cited lack of player availability for that decision.

Post 81 held an 18-9 record in games played, though two of those were overturned based on a player eligibility issue to give it a 16-11 mark (prior to the forfeited semifinal series).

Still, the team advanced to the Area 3 semifinals for the first time since 2015.

Post 81 lost three players based on eligibility ruling following the regular season. That contributed to the low roster number.

“We wanted to set small goals,” Cockman said. “We wanted to have a winning record. We wanted to win playoff series. We made those milestones.”

There were just a few returning players for Post 81 this season.

Creating a winning attitude took some time.

“When we showed up from Day 1, we had some talent,” shortstop Nate Gardner said. “It has been a great summer.”

Gardner, who plays for Faith Christian, had been on the Post 81 junior team, so he was pleased to be part of the progress.

“We opened people’s eyes,” he said.

Indeed, even with a lineup that constantly changed, Post 81 found ways to win games. Eastern Randolph tied for the Area 3 North Division title and would have been the top seed out of the division for the playoffs if not for a forfeited league game that knocked it down one spot.

Luke Thomas, a recent Providence Grove graduate heading to UNC Greensboro on baseball scholarship, made a huge impact in his only Post 81 season. He was the ace on the mound and played as the center fielder at other times. He occupied the lead-off spot in the batting order.

Brody Gardner, who played in high school for Eastern Randolph, also was a key player. But his availability was limited because of a role for the Lexington Flying Pigs of the Old North State League. He’ll join Rickman on the Greensboro College team.

“We need him here,” Cockman said of the impact Brody Gardner made for Post 81.

Catcher Parker Evans and infielder Aidan Allred also gave Eastern Randolph experience in the Post 81 system.

A victory in early June against Randolph County Post 45 sparked Post 81, which had a losing record at the time.

“That really kicked us off,” Nate Gardner said. “We saw that if we can get our act together, we’ll win games.”

In several games, late rallies carried the team to victories. That tended to be a theme, Cockman said.

In the best-of-3 quarterfinals vs. Stanly County, all games were played at Craven Stadium in Ramseur after Game 2 was postponed for a day and then Stanly County’s field deemed unplayable.

In Game 1 on July 12, Post 81 rallied from a 6-0 deficit to tie the game only to fall 7-6 when visiting Stanly County scored a run in the top of the seventh. Evans drove in two runs and Thomas notched two hits.

Post 81 needed to win twice last Thursday, doing so by 13-3 and 13-4 scores. In Game 2, Thomas struck out 10 in five innings. Samuel Asbill was the winning pitcher in Game 3. Chance Terry, who drove in six runs, and Rickman each had five hits in the two games combined. Thomas was 4-for-8 at the plate.

Post 45 Blake Marsh batting

Post 45, Post 81 move on in Area 3 playoffs in different fashions

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Blake Marsh has been a factor for Randolph County Post 45 in the American Legion baseball playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Randolph County Post 45 and Eastern Randolph Post 81 took different paths to reach the Area 3 playoff semifinals for American Legion baseball.

Both ways worked out.

Post 45 rolled to 14-0 and 9-0 victories against Mooresville Post 66 in the best-of-3 quarterfinals.

Post 81 lost its series opener against Stanley County, then recovered to win twice Thursday night to keep its season alive.

Due to field availability issues in Asheboro, Game 1 was played at Mooresville, with Post 45 using Trey Way’s 3-for-4 effort at the plate along with four runs batted in from both Drew Harmon and Tanner Marsh. Robert Garner threw four innings and Braylen Hayes worked the fifth to complete the mercy-shortened five-inning romp.

In Game 2 at McCrary Park, Randolph County rode the pitching of Way, Blake Marsh and Connor Adams to secure another shutout and clinch the series.

Blake Marsh supplied a three-run triple in the second inning after Post 45 scored twice in the first inning on Tanner Marsh’s run-scoring double and Way’s RBI single. Adam Cole and Tatum Marsh had two-out singles in the third to stretch the gap to 8-0. Carson Whitehead’s single drove in a fifth-inning run.

Next for Randolph County (24-8) is the best-of-5 series against Kannapolis, with Games 1 and 2 at home Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (8 p.m.)

Eastern Randolph had to wait a day to qualify for the next round after Wednesday night’s Game 2 was postponed because of weather. As it turned out, all three games were played at Craven Stadium in Ramseur because Stanly County’s field was deemed unplayable after Wednesday’s storms.

Post 81 needed to win twice Thursday, doing so by 13-3 and 13-4 scores. In Game 2, Luke Thomas struck out 10 in five innings. Samuel Asbill was the winning pitcher in Game 3.

Chance Terry, who drove in six runs, and Carson Rickman each had five hits in the two games combined. Thomas was 4-for-8 at the plate.

In Tuesday night’s Game 1, Post 81 rallied from a 6-0 deficit to tie the game only to fall 7-6 when visiting Stanly County scored a run in the top of the seventh. Parker Evans drove in two runs and Thomas notched two hits.

Post 81 (16-11) takes on Rowan County in the semifinal round, set to begin Saturday at Catawba College in Salisbury.

Coming in the next Randolph Record edition:

** Find out how Randolph County Post 45 turned around its season after a slow start.

** It has been a breakthrough season for Eastern Randolph Post 81.

Post 81 Anthony Lopossey July2022

Post 81 makes most of evolving roster

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Eastern Randolph Post 81’s Anthony Lopossey throws a pitch during the series-clinching game in the first round of the Area 3 playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Forfeit costs Eastern Randolph in playoff pecking order

RAMSEUR – Changing lineups have been part of the formula for the Eastern Randolph Post 81 baseball team.

While that took a cruel twist at the end of the regular season, the team has no choice but to focus on what’s ahead with the American Legion Area 3 playoffs beginning.

“Whoever is there, we’re going to go with,” head coach Nate Cockman said. “What happened in the regular season kind of prepared us for this. You’ve got to be able to adjust on the fly, which we’ve done all season. Just kind of going with the flow.”

Post 81 began the playoffs by sweeping a first-round series against Concord Post 51 with games Friday night and Saturday afternoon. This came after the team figured it had the weekend off.

But following Thursday night’s regular-season finale at Foothills, a ruling came that the team must forfeit that result because of ineligible players.

Three players were deemed eligible based on their residencies. So that knocked Post 81 from the Southern Division’s top seed and a first-round bye to the second-place spot.

Randolph County Post 45 moved to first place in the division.

“Just an unfortunate situation,” Cockman said. “They’ve been with us since May. We weren’t hiding anything.”

Next for Post 81 comes a best-of-3 quarterfinals matchup with Stanly County, set to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Craven Stadium in Ramseur and Game 2 the next night at West Stanly High School.

There wasn’t much time for Post 81 players to dwell on the developments.

“They’re definitely upset about it, the whole situation, but there’s nothing we can do about it now,” Cockman said. “We told them we’re going to address it one time and not let it become a distraction.”

The eligibility issue stemmed from a protest lodged by another Area 3 team regarding out-of-county players T.J. McGraw, Jacob Bates and Maddoc Glines. It was determined that they reside closer to other American Legion teams – as far away as Richmond County – that meant they would be required to play for those teams unless waivers were granted.

Cockman said it became a paperwork issue because he wasn’t aware the three players live closer to other American Legion teams. Cockman said that after the issue surfaced late last week that permission was sought and granted from those teams, but Post 81 team officials were told it was too late.

McGraw batted No. 2 in the order and played a variety of positions. Bates was the No. 2 pitcher and Glines was an outfielder. The trio accounted for 192 at-bats.

“A big chunk of our team is gone,” Cockman said.

All three players will have American Legion eligibility next season. With the proper paperwork, they would be cleared to play for Post 81, Cockman said. McGraw and Bates live in Moore County and attend O’Neill School in Southern Pines. Glines plays for Lee Christian.

Post 81 has gone 16-8 on the field, but with two forfeits – the other from a non-league game – that puts the team’s mark at 14-10. Because of the forfeit, Post 81 ended up 7-3 in Area 3 Southern Division play, a game behind Post 45. Eastern Randolph held the tiebreaker if the teams had been deadlocked in the standings, though the teams split two meetings.

The only games forfeited were victories since June 25, which was the deadline for formal roster submissions.

Post 81 clinched the series with Concord with a 10-4 road result Saturday, with Anthony Lopossey logging 6 2/3 innings. Nate Gardner rapped two doubles, Parker Evans drove in three runs and Aidan Allred added two RBI.

In the series opener in Ramseur, Post 81 won 11-3 behind Samuel Asbill’s complete game, while Luke Thomas homered and Joaquin Gordon rapped a two-run double.

Before the result was overturned, Post 81 capped the regular season with a 14-0 victory at Foothills in Thursday night’s make-up game. Thomas, the team’s ace, struck out nine in a five-inning complete game and Brody Gardner knocked in three runs.

As it turned out, Thomas wouldn’t have been used on the mound, Cockman said, had it been known the game wouldn’t count.

Often during the regular season, fluctuating player available meant that Post 81 took the field with anywhere from nine to 15 available players.

“We do have a committed core group,” Cockman said. “We wanted to have depth and that meant we had multi-position players. … Our pitching has kept us in games. We’ve done a pretty good job of getting length out of our pitchers.”

Post 81 defeated Stanly County 4-2 in a non-league game (the other outcome overturned) on June 26, punctuated by McGraw’s game-winning two-run homer. Bates was the winning pitcher.

Stanly County didn’t have a first-round series because winless Sandy Ridge opted to skip the postseason.

Post 45 (22-8) embarks on the playoffs Tuesday against the winner of the Greensboro/Mooresville series.