HobbsDailyReport.com
SHELBY – Hickory Post 48’s hitting woes continued Monday night when it was no-hit and defeated 5-2 in American Legion baseball by Cleveland County on the road.
Right-hander Devin Pressley walked five and struck out 11 as he handcuffed Post 48 (2-6), which now has eight hits in the last three games. He threw 102 pitches.
Cleveland County scored once in the first inning and twice in the fifth inning. Hickory scored once in the sixth inning, and Cleveland County answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Post 48 made three errors and Cleveland County had six hits, two each by Colby Putnam and Jackson Ledbetter with Cole Drewery and Steven Spaes each driving in two runs. Spaes hit a home run.
Ryan Zych (Fred T. Foard), Boone Herman (Hickory), William Weidner (East Burke), Blake Evans (Hickory) and Elijah Miller (Maiden) each drew a walk from Pressley and Zynch and Boone scored runs.
Isaiah McDowell (Hickory) was Post 48’s starting pitcher, going five innings and throwing 91 pitches. He allowed six hits, five runs (four earned) with three walks and three strikeouts.
Hickory left two runners on base and Cleveland County stranded seven.
Post 48 has lost three straight games and five of its last six as it prepares for two straight home playing dates at the Legion Fairgrounds in Newton.
Statesville visits Hickory on Wednesday (7 p.m.) and Hendersonville arrives Friday for a doubleheader that starts at 5 p.m.
Next week, it’s Caldwell County at Hickory on Monday night, Hickory at Cherryville on Tuesday night and Cleveland County at Hickory on Friday night.
AREA IV STANDINGS: https://carolinassportshub.com/american-legion-baseball-roundup-through-may-30/#