Post 455 suffers tough 10-inning loss

Post 455 was one strike away from snapping a three-game losing streak against Lake Norman. But Kyle Lawerence had a different ending in mind, stroking a double to left-center to knock in the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning.
Through four innings of play, Post 455 appeared to be cruising up 8-1 courtesy of two Matt Kuster three-run homeruns in the third and fourth innings.
Chris Hogue worked six full innings on the mound, allowing only one run and four hits. But his pitch count became too high so head coach Bruce Bolick was forced to remove him from the lineup.
The force of hand proved to be costly as Johnny Spake, who was 3-for-3 for Lake Norman slugged their way back in the game. Spake connected on two solo homers of his own to lead his team back.
Lake Norman pitcher Brandon Williams worked three innings, striking out four batters, while only allowing two hits to earn the victory. Dustin Weaver suffered the loss working a full inning and relinquishing three hits.
Bolick was pleased with his team’s effort, especially with Kuster’s two homerun performance.
“I haven’t seen that kind of night lately. He had a huge night hitting—four hits and all of them were hit pretty well,” he said.
Hogue, a rising junior at North Lincoln, also impressed his coach.
“Hogue was outstanding, he really had them baffled. He got his pitch count up and we’re not going to hurt him. Since he’s so young, we just took him out… he’s got more years to go,” Bolick said.
Kuster’s led Post 455 going 4-for-5 at the plate with two homeruns, a single and a double— missing the cycle by a triple. Brandon Jones went 2-for-6, Shane Brackett and Kyle Baker both went 2-for-5. Brandon Scott had singled in the go-ahead run for Post 455 in the tenth, but it did not hold up.
Lake Norman improves their legion record to 4-1 on the summer, while Post 455 falls to 1-4.
“It was a heartbreaker, but we were pleased with the resiliency of the players. We had two shutouts in a row, so I’m pleased we came back,” Bolick said.
Post 455 has a full week off with their next game coming next Sunday against Steele Creek at East Lincoln High School.

Friday Post 262 9
Post 455 0
Post 455 only mustered two hits in Friday’s 9-0 loss to Charlotte Post 262.
Will Rorie pitched a complete game and struck out eight batters for the victory.
Colby Burgin worked eight complete innings, scattering seven hits and striking out five batters on the night.
Tyler Howard doubled and Shane Brackett went 1-for-4 in the loss.
Post 262 recorded nine hits at the plate and also benefited by numerous Post 455 errors.by John Mark Brooks