LEGION BASEBALL: Gaston Braves ride 7-run inning to win over Hickory

Matthews, Gastonia also take openers;

Mint Hill-Caldwell County suspended in 4th

 

By CHRIS HOBBS

HobbsDailyReport.com

BELMONT – The Gaston Braves scored seven runs in the fourth inning on Saturday night, wiping out Hickory’s two-run lead en route to an 11-4 American Legion baseball playoff game victory.

Dylan Owenby led Gaston (13-3) with two hits and drove in four runs at South Point High as Hickory (6-13) lost its fourth straight game and for the seventh time in eight games.

Game 2 of the best-of-5 Area IV series is Sunday night (7 p.m.) at Henkel-Alley Field at the Legion Fairgrounds in Newton.

The third game is Monday (7 p.m.) at South Point. If a Game 4 is needed, it will be played Tuesday (7 p.m.) in Newton. Game 5, if needed, would be at the Braves on Wednesday (7 p.m.).

Gaston is the East No. 2 seed and Post 48 is the West No. 7 seed. The series winner advances to a second round best-of-5 series against West No. 3 seed Cleveland County (15-13), which has a first round bye.

In the series opener, Hickory had seven hits. Isaiah McDowell (Hickory) had three hits and Justin Skewes (St. Stephens) had two and drove in two runs.

Post 48 scored in the first inning and led 2-1 and added a run in the third inning to go up 3-1.

Owenby, batting eighth in Gaston’s order, led the way. Julian Hall, Logan Agusta and Daniel McClellan each added two hits and Hall drove in two runs.

Gaston starter Chase Stewart worked 4 2/3 innings, giving up six hits, four runs (three earned) with one walk and six strikeouts.

Josh Barkley (St. Stephens) started for Post 48 and pitched 3 2/3 innings. He allowed 10 hits, eight runs (seven earned), walked none and struck out two.

Aiden Landrum (Fred T. Foard) threw 1 2/3 innings for Post 48, giving up two hits, three runs (all earned) with three walks and one strikeout while Hollis Murphis (Hickory Christian Academy) closed by getting the final two outs.

In other first round openers:

— East No. 4 Matthews outslugged West No. 5 Henderson County 10-7 at Matthews.

— East No. 3 Gastonia beat West No. 6 Burke County 5-1 in Gastonia.

— East No. 5 Mint Hill and West No. 4 Caldwell County were tied at 2 in the fourth inning when their game at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls was suspended by inclement weather.

The game will resume on Sunday at 6 p.m. at Mint Hill with Game 2 to follow. Game 3 is scheduled Monday (7 p.m.) in Granite Falls.

AREA IV AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND (Best-of-5)

(All games 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)

Note: Team records were when series were seeded and pairings were released

BYES

West No. 1 Cherryville (17-9, 12-2)

West No. 2 Rutherford County (14-3, 12-2)

West No. 3 Cleveland County (15-13, 9-5)

West No. 5 HENDERSON COUNTY (6-10, 6-8)

vs. East No. 4 MATTHEWS (7-11, 6-6)

 

Game 1, Saturday at Matthews: Matthews 10, Henderson County 7

Game 2: Sunday at Henderson County

Game 3: Monday at Matthews

Game 4, if needed: Tuesday at Henderson County

Game 5, if needed: Wednesday at Matthews

West No. 8 HICKORY (6-12, 3-11)

vs. East No. 2 GASTON BRAVES (12-3, 10-2)

 

Game 1, Saturday at South Point High: Gaston Braves 11, Hickory 4

Game 2: Sunday at Hickory (Legion Fairgrounds, Newton)

Game 3: Monday at South Point High

Game 4, if needed: Tuesday at Hickory (Legion Fairgrounds, Newton)

Game 5, if needed: Wednesday at Gaston Braves

East No. 5 MINT HILL (5-7, 5-7)

vs. West No. 4 CALDWELL COUNTY (8-9, 6-8)

 

Game 1, Saturday at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls: Caldwell County 2, Mint Hill 2, fourth inning, suspended

Game 1 (completion): Sunday at Mint Hill, 6 p.m.

Game 2: Sunday at Mint Hill, following Game 1 completion

Game 3: Monday at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls

Game 4, if needed: Tuesday at Mint Hill

Game 5, if needed: Wednesday at M.S. Deal Stadium, Granite Falls

West No. 6 BURKE COUNTY (6-10, 6-8)

vs. East No. 3 GASTONIA (8-7, 8-4)

 

Game 1, Saturday at Gastonia: Gastonia 5, Burke County 1

Game 2: Sunday at Shuey Field, Morganton, 7 p.m.

Game 3: Monday at Gastonia

Game 4, if needed: Tuesday at Shuey Field, Morganton

Game 5, if needed: Wednesday at Gastonia

SECOND ROUND (Best-of-5, July 8-12)

(All games 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)

West No. 1 CHERRYVILLE (17-9)

vs. East No. 4 MATTHEWS-West No. 5 HENDERSON COUNTY

 

Game 1: Friday, July 8 at Cherryville

Game 2: Saturday, July 9 at Matthews or Henderson County

Game 3: Sunday, July 10 at Cherryville

Game 4, if needed: Monday, July 11 at Matthews or Henderson County

Game 5, if needed: Tuesday, July 12 at Cherryville

West No. 3 CLEVELAND COUNTY (15-13) vs.

East No. 2 GASTON BRAVES-West No. 7 HICKORY

 

Game 1: Friday, July 8 at site TBD

Game 2: Saturday, July 9 at site TBD

Game 3: Sunday, July 10 at site TBD

Game 4, if needed: Monday, July 11 at site TBD

Game 5, if needed: Tuesday, July 12 at site TBD

East No. 1 QUEEN CITY (13-1)

vs. East No. 5 MINT HILL-West No. 4 CALDWELL COUNTY

 

Game 1: Friday, July 8 at Queen City

Game 2: Saturday, July 9 at Mint Hill or Caldwell County

Game 3: Sunday, July 10 at Queen City

Game 4, if needed: Monday, July 11 at Mint Hill or Caldwell County

Game 5, if needed: Tuesday, July 12 at Queen City

West No. 2 RUTHERFORD COUNTY (14-3)

vs. West No. 6 BURKE-COUNTY-East No. 3 GASTONIA

 

Game 1: Friday, July 8 at Rutherford County

Game 2: Saturday, July 9 at Burke County or Gastonia

Game 3: Sunday, July 10 at Rutherford County

Game 4, if needed: Monday, July 11 Burke County or Gastonia

Game 5, if needed: Tuesday, July 12 at Rutherford County

SEMIFINALS (Best-of-7, July 14-20)

 

Cherryville-Matthews/Henderson County winner vs. Cleveland County-Gaston Braves-Hickory winner

Queen City-Mint Hill/Caldwell County winner vs. Rutherford County-Burke County/Gastonia winner

CHAMPIONSHIP (July 21-23)

 

Format to be announced

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