Post 100 Area IV champs

Post 100 captured its third straight and record 20th overall Area IV championship on Friday with a 5-4 come-from-behind win over Queen City at Fraley Field in Cherryville.

With the victory, Post 100 received one of the four “1 seeds” as an Area champion and was scheduled to face Area II runner-up Hope Mills in last night’s opening round.

In the “Pool-play” format, Cherryville will play Area I champion Fuquay-Varina today at 4:30 p.m., and will face Area III runner-up Randolph County Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m.

The top two teams from the two pools will then square off in a single elimination tournament on Friday and Saturday to determine the N.C. state champion, who will advance to next week’s Southeast Regional in Asheboro.

Post 100 took an early lead in the Area IV single-game championship. In the bottom of the second inning, Joseph Webb singled, advanced to second base on Jacob Hamrick’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Reid Stroupe’s RBI base hit for a 1-0 lead.

But Queen City sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the fourth to take a 4-1 advantage.

Aiden Christmas and Owen Williams began the frame with singles, and a walk to Russell Golembe loaded the bases with no outs. Tommy Hoefling’s infield hit scored Christmas to make it 4-1.

Tyler Roakes followed with a sacrifice bunt that scored Williams, and two batters later Will Sattucci singled home Golembe and Hoefling to give Queen City a three-run lead.

But Post 100 answered with a couple runs in the home half of the fourth inning without the aid of a base hit. Hamrick drew a base on balls, Collin Robinson and Landon Hahn were both hit by a pitch and Cole Irby reached on catcher’s interference, all contributing to a 2-run fourth to make it 4-3.

Cherryville then tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Webb doubled and later scored on a double steal.

And in the sixth, Post 100 got singles from Landon Hahn and Zane Brockman before a walk to Irby loaded the bases. Cherryville then took the lead for good on Landon Jenkins’ run-scoring base hit that pushed Hahn across with the game-winner.

Brockman picked up the win on the mound in relief. The righthander pitched four shutout innings, allowing just two Queen City hits, striking out 7 and walking none.

Hahn and Webb had two hits each for Post 100.

Notes: Area IV runner-up Queen City will be making its first-ever trip to the North Carolina American Legion Baseball State Tournament.

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Stars Division

Area I #1 Fuquay-Varina Post 116

Area II #2 Hope Mills Post 32

Area III #2 Randolph County Post 45

Area IV #1 Cherryville Post 100

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Stripes Division

Area I #2 Pitt County Post 39

Area II #1 Wilmington Post 10

Area III #1 Rowan County Post 342

Area IV #2 Queen City Mustangs

(Published July 27, 2022)