HobbsDailyReport.com
POST 48 SCHEDULE, RESULTS
MAY
25, Cherryville, Lost 5-8 (9)
27, Randolph County, Lost 3-8; Won 10-2
28, Maiden, ppd., June 22
31, at Maiden, Lost 4-9
JUNE
1, at Mocksville (Rich Park), Lost 0-9
2, at Taylorsville (Alexander Central HS), Won 3-0
3, Henderson County, DH, Won 3-2, 9-3
4, at Cherryville (Cherryville HS), Lost 3-10
7, at Gaston Braves (South Point HS), Lost 2-7
12, at Lincoln County (E. Lincoln HS), Won 7-5
14, Lincoln County, Lost 1-3
16, Burnsville, DH, Won 9-1, Won 11-0, 5 inn.
17, Mocksville, Won 5-4
18, Napoleon, Ohio, Lost 4-14
20, Caldwell County, Lost 4-18, 6 inn.
22, Maiden, Won 7-6, 9 inn.
24, at Asheville, DH (Asheville Roberson HS), Won 10-6; Lost 7-8
25, Taylorsville, ppd., June 29
26, at Rutherford County (McNair Field), ppd., June 28
27, Rutherford County, ppd., June 28 at Rutherford County
28, at Rutherford County, Lost 1-0, Lost 7-5, 8 inn.
29, Waverly, Ohio, Lost 5-7; Taylorsville, Lost 3-9
30, at Burke County (Shuey Field), Lost 2-4
JULY
1, Burke County, 7 p.m.
2, Cherryville, 7 p.m.
4, at Caldwell County (M.S. Deal Stadium), 7 p.m.
MORGANTON – Right-hander Nate Watkins threw a complete game, allowing five hits, as Burke County edged visiting Hickory 4-2 on Saturday night to pull into a three-way tie for fourth place.
Watkins — who plays high school baseball for McDowell — struck out seven at Shuey Field as Post 21 improved to 6-8 overall and 6-7 in the West Division.
Heading into Sunday’s 7 p.m. game against Hickory at the Legion Fairgrounds in Newton, Burke County shares fourth place with Hickory and Asheville. Rutherford County, Cherryville and Caldwell County are 1-2-3 in the standings.
Hickory dropped to 10-15 overall with its sixth straight loss.
Burke County never trailed in Saturday’s game after gaining a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Watkins doubled and Grant Fulbright (East Burke) walked and both scored.
Post 21 extended its lead by a run in the third inning when Mason Mozeley (Draughn) reached on an error and later scored on a double steal.
Hickory closed within a run at 3-2 with two runs in the fifth inning, scoring runs on a single by Carrington Chapman (Bunker Hill) and on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Bryce Stober (Hickory).
Burke County scored again in the seventh inning when Dylan Poplin (McDowell) led off with a single and eventually scored on a single by Ayden Lail (East Burke).
Bryson Smith (Bunker Hill) took the loss for Hickory, pitching a complete game.
The three-team race for fourth place in the West Division carries the value of a start at home to a first-round playoff series when the postseason begins on Saturday.
Burke County has two regular-season games left after facing Hickory on Sunday – at Rutherford County on Tuesday and against Taylorsville on Thursday night at Shuey Field.
Hickory’s also has regular-season games ahead against Cherryville at the Legion Fairgrounds on Monday at 7 p.m., then a Wednesday (7 p.m.) game against Caldwell County at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls.