Sports - May 2003

Hickory spoils

Published May 26, 2003

Post 100 opener

By MIKE POWELL, LTN Correspondent

CHERRYVILLE — Cherryville Post 100 did not open the 2003 American Legion season under ideal conditions Sunday night.

The team was missing some key players from Cherryville High’s third-round playoff team, and all the preseason practice dates had been rained out.

But considering the lack of preparation and the quality of the opponent, coach Bobby Reynolds was not too disappointed with his team’s play in a 10-6 loss to Hickory at Fraley Field.

“We just gave out the uniforms and played, no practice at all,” Reynolds said. “I thought we played well for the first game. That’s a pretty good bunch we were playing, and we hung in there.”

Hickory, perhaps the most talented team in Area Four this season, lived up to its lofty billing. Post 48 banged out 16 hits against three Cherryville pitchers and played errorless baseball until the bottom of the ninth inning.

Shortstop Brock Thornburg went 3-for-5 with a single, double, home run and three runs scored to lead Hickory. Rusty Herman and John Patterson added two-run homers for Post 48, which broke on top 3-0 in the second inning and led throughout the game.

However, despite its dominance at the plate, Hickory did not put Cherryville away until the ninth inning.

 The lead was only two at 7-5 when Thornburg led off the ninth with a homer  to right field off tiring Post 100 reliever Chris Cook. One out later, Cook walked Michael Hicks and then served up a two-run homer by Patterson that extended the lead 10-5.

In the bottom of the ninth, Cherryville got a run-scoring single from David Wise and had runners on first and third with one out. However, the potential rally died there as reliever Hicks struck out two in a row to end the game.

Hickory starting pitcher Shane Matthews allowed only two hits and struck out seven in six innings of work. The St. Stephens High right-hander held Post 100 hitless until the fourth, when Brandon Hurt homered on a 3-0 pitch with two outs.

In addition to Hurt’s shot, Post 100 got a 3-for-5 outing from Chris Mason, a two-RBI single from Jay Heafner, and a productive appearance by Evan Wise off the bench. Wise went 1-for-2 with a run scored and sacrifice fly.

In addition, West Lincoln product Matt Craig had two hits in a starting role at second base for Cherryville.

Chris Halubka, another former West Lincoln standout, was the starting and losing pitcher for Post 100. He gave up five hits and three runs in two innings of work.

Saturday’s game at home versus at Kannapolis was rained out in the second inning with Cherryville ahead 6-1. That game will not be made up.

 Next up for Post 100 is a home game tonight against Area Four Western Division foe Caldwell County.

Hick 030 011 203—10 16 1

Cville 000 101 211—6 10 1

Matthews, Hicks (7), Patterson (9) and Patterson,  Stanley. Halubka, Cook (3) and Wise. W-Matthews. L-Halubka. HRs, Hickory, Herman, Thornburg, Patterson; Cherryville, Hurt.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

Terms and Conditions