THOMASVILLE – High Point Post 87 kept up its strong early-season play.
The HiToms scored five runs in the first, continued to add pressure throughout and, behind solid pitching, finished off a 10-0 win in six innings against Chatham County Post 305 in American Legion baseball Wednesday at Finch Field.
“We’ve been playing great,” Post 87 coach Luke Spiva said. “Our hitters have been swinging the bat. We’ve been taking our walks when we get them. And we’ve got some really good quality starts the last couple games.”
Levi Mitchell went 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the HiToms (6-1 overall, 3-0 Area III North), who reached the semifinals of the Area III playoffs last year. Brayden Durham and Fin Millard each had two hits and two RBIs.
Travail Barnes and Owen Landreth each had a hit and two RBIs as Post 87 totaled 13 hits – all singles – and scored five in the first, two in the third, one in the fourth and two in the seventh to end it early via the mercy rule.
The HiToms took control with a four-hit, three-walk first. Barnes scored two on a bases-loaded hit through the middle. Mitchell spun a hit past the second baseman to score one more, and Millard drove in two more on a single to right.
“We had great base-running that inning,” Spiva said. “I think we had three or four stolen bases. The starter was struggling to find the zone. We were disciplined at the plate. We don’t come out of the zone much. And when the ball is in the zone, we hit it well.”
Nick Salas earned the pitching win, striking out six while allowing just one hit and one walk over four innings. Thristan Figueroa added two innings of relief, striking out three while allowing two hits and no walks.
Gavin Rower, Colin Dorney and Paxton Piccini each had a hit for Chatham (5-4). Ayden Brown took the pitching loss in one inning.
Post 87 will next play Friday at home against Liberty Post 81 at 7:30 p.m.
“If we play our game, I’m confident in any of my nine against anybody,” Spiva said. “Garner’s always really good. Cherryville’s always really good. Randolph, Davidson – they’re always really good teams.
“But I’m confident with my nine. If we play our game and don’t make five errors or walk 10 people, we’ll have a good chance every night.”
