05-14-03 Hammond

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	Sports - May 2003


	Hammonds pitches strong game for the Wolves


	(Top) Matt Kuster, who had two hits and two RBIs, catches the ball at first to barely get the runner. (Bottom) Jason Hammonds pitched a four-hitter with eight strikeouts helping advance the Wolves. (LTN photo by Jenny Walling )

		*Randall Chambers makes the put-out for Lincolnton and throws the ball to second base. (LTN photo by Jenny Walling)*


					Published May 14, 2003

			Click to enlarge

By STEVE KAY, LTN Correspondent

CATAWBA — The Lincolnton Wolves baseball team advanced to the Midwest 2-A Championship game Tuesday, behind the gritty pitching of Jason Hammonds.

Hitting by Justin Keever and Matt Kuster also helped the Wolves edge Chase 2-1.

Remarkably, Hammonds held the hard-hitting Chase Trojans to just one run on four hits. The senior right-hander didn’t allow a base hit after the third inning. However, he did have to pitch around a couple of tight spots to keep the Wolves in front.

Hammonds used his curve ball and spotted his fastball to keep Chase off balance. After the game, Hammonds came off relaxed — and appeared to have plenty left.

“I was able to get my pitches over today and my teammates got enough hits with men on,” he said. “I was determined to keep us on top.”

Singles were the formula the Wolves used in the first and third innings: Justin Keever reached on singles both innings and, both times, was brought home by first baseman Matt Kuster.

Chase scored their only run in the first inning, but was held off the board the rest of the contest.

Wolves coach Bobby Martin was confident with Hammonds, a senior, on the mound.

“We have only pitched Jason about 45 innings this year so we haven’t overused him,” he said. “Last year Jason pitched all 11 innings against Bandys in the opening round of the tournament.

“Our pitching has done the job all year,” Martin said. “Our ERA as a staff is about 3.35 and that’s pretty good.”

Leading hitter Matt Kuster’s ability to focus at the plate paid off.

“I just relaxed and looked for a good pitch to hit,” said Kuster after the game. “I was getting curve balls; then I got a fastball over the middle of the plate — and was able to deliver.”

The Wolves will play the winner of the Bunker Hill/East Rutherford match at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bandys.

—————

On Monday, the Wolves won the opening round game against host team Bandys.

Junior Justin Keever pitched excellent baseball, striking out 12 Trojans and walking none.

The LHS squad used a big six run fifth inning to break the game open.

Leading hitters were Brandon Scott, Evan Wise and Bradley Dalrymple with 2 RBIs each. Randall Chambers contributed with two hits of his own.


	*© 2001 Lincoln Times-News*

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