Sports - May 2003

Pitching holds key to Post 455 success

Published May 28, 2003

Lincolnton, E. Lincoln contribute nine players each to Denver roster

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, LTN Staff Writer

DENVER — Who said East Lincoln and Lincolnton can’t get along?

Post 455 is a perfect example that the Mustangs and the Wolves can live harmoniously.

There are nine of each as Bruce Bolick starts up his club’s American Legion season.

Post 455 is coming off a decent year (15-11), but  hopes for an even better 2003. Last year Denver advanced to the third round of the Area Four playoffs before it bowed out.

Bolick expects pitching will play a major role in the team’s success.

 “The key for us will be developing our second line of pitching,” he said.

Bolick has a very solid 1-3 in his pitching rotation with Mustangs’ David and Mike Rue and Lincolnton’s Justin Keever.

“I feel pretty confident that Josh Hamby can step in and be our No. 4 starter, but we’ll just have to see,” he said.

Hamby was a reliever for East Lincoln, mostly nailing down games as a closer.

Lincolnton’s Bradley Dalrymple, Randall Chambers and Colby Burgin all figure to be contributors in the bullpen. Josh Belk and Alex Loftin also figure into that equation.

The No. 5 starter could be Lincolnton’s Brandon Scott. If Scott can step up, it will help the team considerably.

Offensively, Post 455 should be solid with former Lincolnton player Charlie Stroup leading the way. The Rue brothers and Justin Keever also look to have big summers. Rising freshman Belk is poised for a breakout season.

Denver has no players with college baseball experience. Derek Curl is the closest they have as he played football at Lenoir-Rhyne. Curl’s promising career was cut short when he suffered a major concussion.

 However, Post 455 does have players college-age in Thomas Abernathy, Lee Woody, Stroup and Curl.

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Post 455 Schedule : May: 28, at Charlotte; 29, at Pineville; 30 Monroe, June 7, Gastonia; 8, Steele Creek; 9, Huntersville; 10, Charlotte; 12, at Monroe; 13, at Kings Mountain; 14, Gaston Braves; 18, Pineville; 20, Kings Mountain; 22, at Gaston Braves; 24, Huntersville.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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