TICKET PUNCHED: Scarbrough’s 4 RBI, Eason’s CG clinch Post 49’s automatic bid to state tournament

BEAUFORT — The Hamlet American Legion baseball team is heading to the state tournament, fulfilling the accomplishment for the first time since the late 1990s.

A successful summer of baseball continued for Post 49 Friday as it got over its recent three-year playoff hump and finally secured an automatic bid to states.

Outlasting wet weather the day before, Hamlet outplayed Beaufort Post 99 to win game four of the second round of the Area 2 Conference playoffs and take the series 3-1.

Fueled by complete game performance from starting pitcher James Eason (Richmond), and four runs batted in by JD Scarbrough (Pitt Community College), Hamlet bounced Beaufort 6-1.

Hamlet scored all of its runs through the first two innings, giving Eason plenty of run support en route to his second win over Post 99 in the series.

Eason took a no-hit bid through 5.1 innings and finished with a line of three hits, one earned run and four strikeouts. He retired the first 10 batters he faced in order and also sat Beaufort down in order in the fifth inning.

“I was able to get ahead in the count tonight,” Eason said. “And I let my team work defensively behind me. The thing that worked well was getting ahead with a fastball and I just kept trusting my breaking ball.

“I kept throwing their timing off with quick pitching,” he added. “It feels great getting ready to head to states with a team like this and knowing that I’ve got a family and brothers behind me on the field at all times. We are just a group of kids who have a heart for the sport that we love to play and know that God is behind us in everything that we do.”

Scarbrough was a crucial component of the fast offensive start, powering in four RBI in the first two innings for his second most in a game this season.

Facing starting pitcher Cam Pavy (two innings, six hits, six runs), Hamlet scored two runs in the top of the first. Evan Hodges (Richmond) drew a one-out walk, which was followed by a two-run blast from Scarbrough to center field, his third longball of the summer.

The first of Eason’s three straight 1-2-3 innings to start the game paved the way to a four-run top of the second.

John Carre (Pinecrest) singled to lead off the inning and the bases were loaded when Landon Taylor (Richmond) and Eason reached via a walk and a single, respectively. Hodges recorded the first of his two hits and his solo RBI with an infield hit to score Carre and make it 3-0.

Scarbrough dug in for the next at-bat and registered his final two RBI on a line drive single to center field. Taylor trotted in from third and Eason hustled safely across the plate from second.

Hodges scored Hamlet’s final run when Scarbrough swiped second and an errant throw allowed Hodges to score.

“I had a 3-1 count and knew a fastball was coming, so I told myself to sit back and drive it,” Scarbrough said of his homer. “And I ended up hitting a home run, which gave us a lot of momentum early and we continued to hit well as a team.

“It feels good going to states,” he continued. “We didn’t have the best season last summer and being able to go to states as a top team is just a really good feeling.”

With a 6-0 cushion, Eason dealt quick second and third frames. Hamlet loaded the bases with one away in the fourth but couldn’t add to its lead.

Eason allowed his first two base runners in the fourth on a walk and an error, but stranded both to preserve the hefty advantage.

Carre, who had two hits, and Maddox Locklear (Scotland) singled in the fifth with two outs but didn’t reach home.

Beaufort finally connected for its first two hits in the bottom of the sixth, a single by Eli Jenkins followed by an RBI double from Lincoln Strump to make it 6-1.

An inning later, Eason gave up a leadoff double to Brody Nelson but stranded him and a two-out walk to secure the series win.

“Getting off to a fast start was very important tonight,” head coach Chip Gordon said. “We needed to get to them quickly and set the tone. We knew if we could hit them in the mouth early that they couldn’t stay with us. We pitched better than they did, and our guys answered our call and did exactly what we asked, which was to be ready from pitch one.

“It says a lot about this group of guys that we’re the first team going back to the state tournament in a long time,” he added. “It wouldn’t be possible without their hard work and dedication all summer.

“These guys bought into what we wanted to do as a program and have played as a team since day one. We as coaches couldn’t be more proud of them. This is just the first part of our journey. We’re looking to win Monday and represent Area 2 as one seed.”

Gordon added that the players and coaches wanted to “thank all of our sponsors for their support this season and JR Cottle for feeding the team” during the recent road trip.

Post 49 belted 13 hits in the win, including a game-high three hits from Scarbrough. Eason, Hodges and Carre each had two hits, as Locklear, Jacob Williams (Union Pines), Riley Brown (Richmond) and Isaac Hinshaw (Richmond) all had one hit.

Hamlet (22-5) will host Wilmington Post 10 (18-4) for the Area 2 Conference playoff championship game Monday.

The one-game, winner-takes-all title game will also serve as a seeding game for the state tournament. Both Hamlet and Wilmington have qualified for states, with this summer’s bid being Hamlet’s first since 1997.

Post 49 defeated Post 10 earlier this summer, a 6-0 victory at home June 15.

Monday’s championship game will be played at Memorial Park at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.

Sports editor’s note: Stats and game information provided by Hamlet’s Game Changer app, assistant coach Anthony Hailey and Gordon.