HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – Scoring two runs in the ninth inning, Maiden Post 240 gave up a run in the bottom of the inning but still nipped Hickory 5-4 on Saturday afternoon in American Legion baseball.
Four Maiden players had two hits each at the Legion Fairgrounds – Taylor Tibbs, Bryson Ledford, Grayeson Brown and J.R. McRee – to back solid pitching by Post 240 starter Cy Spencer and reliever and winning pitcher Daniel Kahill.
Ledford drove in two runs and Tibbs, McRee and Chantz London each drove in one run for Maiden in a game that included nine errors, six by Maiden.
Hickory had a 2-1 lead after scoring a run in the third inning, and Maiden scored a run in the seventh inning to force extra innings.
Both teams scored a run in the eighth inning, making it 3-3, and Post 240 ended up winning after scoring two runs in the ninth inning. Kahill gave up two hits but only one run in the bottom of the ninth to finish the game.
Austin Houser went 2-for-5, Weston Kerley went 2-for-5 with an RBI and Jacob Fuller had two RBIs for Hickory in the loss.
Spencer and Post 48 starter Pierson Hanvey locked up in a pitching battle.
Spencer worked eight innings, giving up six hits, three runs (none earned) with no walks and two strikeouts. Hanvey went seven innings, allowing seven hits, two runs (one earned) with three walks and two strikeouts.
Houser took the loss in relief for Post 48. He pitched two innings, giving up five hits, three runs (one earned) with a walk and a strikeout.
Maiden has a home game (Maiden High) scheduled Sunday at 7 p.m. against Lincoln County.
Hickory 1, Shelby 0: Post 48 played a second game at home on Saturday, nipping Shelby behind a complete game by Kerley.
Kerley threw 101 pitches as Post 48 improved to 5-8.
Hickory has a home game against Cherryville on Sunday that has had its starting time moved from 7 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Caldwell County rained out: Caldwell County Post 29’s doubleheader on Saturday against Henderson County was rained out and reset for June 25 at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls.
The games were originally scheduled as a season opener for Post 29 on May 21 but were rescheduled.