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