Friday, October 2, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Baseball fans were treated to an unexpected start to day one of the NC American Legion Junior Baseball Tournament in Cherryville, NC, on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Area III runners-up, West Stokes County Post 290 from King, NC, with a record of 11-7, faced off against undefeated Roanoke Knights, Post 164 from Williamston, NC. The knights entered the game with 13 wins. The first inning ended scoreless, and the top of the 2nd inning saw Stokes break the game open and never let up. Jeb Presnell began scoring with a sacrifice fly that resulted in two runners crossing the plate, followed by center fielder Banks Fant launching a single that scored another run. The top of the third included Trenton Fraley driving a single to deep center field that produced two more runs with Post 290 cruising to a comfortable 5-0 lead. Bently Joyce scored in the top of the 5th on a passed ball. Heading into the top of the 6th with a 6-0 lead, West Stokes County was not done yet. After stealing two bases, Banks Fant scores on a fielder's choice, followed by Cameryn Phipps gets an unearned run on a passed ball, and Reeves singles to center field, scoring Chris Bennett. The throw-in allows Bentley Joyce to score, making the score 10-0. Roanoke could not score in the bottom half of the inning, ending the game on the mercy rule after 6 innings.
Roanoke's bright spot defensively saw them turn three double plays. Summary of the game: Stokes had 10 runs on 13 hits and 1 error. They stole 3 bases. Top hitters were Bently Joyce with 3 hits and 3 runs scored, along with Trenton Fraley who stroked 3 hits, 2 RBIs, and scored 1 run. The winning pitcher was Bently Joyce, with Jeb Presnell earning the save. The Knights scored 0 runs, on 5 hits, and committed 1 error. The losing pitcher was Caden Manning. West Stokes advances to the winners' bracket tomorrow at 4 pm, while Roanoke will play in an elimination game at 10 am.
Game two of the afternoon pitted the 10-3 Tigers of Hope Mills Post 32 against the 23-10 Area III Champions from Matthews Post 235. Jack Martin got things rolling in the bottom of the first by driving in Drew Knowles on a well-placed single. After one inning, Matthews had an early 1-0 lead. Drew Knowles came into the game hitting .366 with a .500 on-base percentage and leading the team with 34 hits. He kickstarted a big inning for Matthews by reaching on a fly ball that was dropped by the 2nd baseman. Tim Henderson scored with some heads-up base running on the error. Aaron Dekeukelaere drew a walk to load the bases. Ben Baldauf also walked to score a walk-in RBI as Carter Freeman was granted the free trip to home plate. Jack Martin is hit by a pitch, resulting in Drew Knowles scoring an unearned run. Patrick O'Shaughnessy's pop fly to right field would score Aaron Dekeukelaere, and suddenly Hope Mills found themselves down 5-0 by the time the inning was over. Four runs had been scored without a base hit, and it appeared we were headed for the second blowout of the day.
In the top of the third, the Tigers of Hope Mills showed they had some fight left in them. One run was scored when Logan Read hit a sizzling single just past shortstop to centerfield. Brayden Moncrief recorded the first run of the day for Hope Mills. The score remained 5-1 heading into the top of the 5th. The tigers clawed out two more runs when Zi Campbell scored on a wild pitch and Avery Barbour sacrificed to send Trey Ray home. Things were getting interesting now. Both teams were playing a game of chess with pitching moves to avoid high pitch counts. It appeared Hope Mills would add more in the top half of the 6th after Cam Sutton launched a standup double to the outfield. He would steal 3rd base with two outs, and the Tigers were getting some momentum back.
Unfortunately, Zi Campbell grounded out to 1st, leaving Sutton stranded. Trailing 5-3 going into the final inning, Hope Mills showed the resilience that helped them rattle off 9 straight wins entering this tournament. Trey Ray blasts a shot to center field to record a standup triple. Logan Read tries to match the feat with a deep drive just in front of the center field wall as his standup double scores Ray. An RBI single by Brayden Barbour ties the game at 5-5. Matthews was now in a deadlock after the early lead. Left-handed batter, Dekeukelaere pulled a double to left center field, and he advanced to 3rd by Jack Martin's sacrifice. Christian Gegg hits a walk-off single to end the game at 6-5.
The victory is the seventh straight for Matthews as they snap the nine-game winning streak of Hope Mills. Sunday, Hope Mills will play an elimination game at 1 pm, and Matthews will play a game in the winner's bracket at 7:30 pm. Hope Mills Post 32 recorded 5 runs on 7 hits and committed 2 errors. The losing pitcher was Zi Campbell, and Logan Read led the way at the plate, going 3-4 with 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. The winning pitcher for Matthews Post 235 was Jack Martin. Post 235 scored 6 runs on 6 hits and made 1 error. The top hitter was the winning pitcher, Jack Martin, hitting a perfect 2-2 and driving in 2 RBIs.
Game three was a battle between South Caldwell Post 29 and Port City Post 545. Striking first was South Caldwell, when Nathan Hall drove in Chase Cardwell with a line drive to center field. The early 1-0 lead would vanish quickly as Port City would produce 4 runs in their half of the inning. Jackson Noon advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch that scored Dylan Cooper. Davis Hendren drives in Noon with a single, followed by Will Coward's Andrew Booth who was put in as a courtesy runner for the catcher Hendren. The final run of the inning came from Braylon Quitman, driven in by a single from Price Hardin. Port City was now leading 4-1. South Caldwell roared back to life in the top of the 3rd. Michael Craig started the onslaught with a line drive double to left field; he then advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch. A passed ball sends him to home plate.
Brady Boston walks and advances to 2nd on a passed ball. A botched pick-off attempt sends him to 3rd. Brayden Auton reaches on a base on balls. Boston scores on Graham Heavner's single. Chase Cardwell doubles to score both Auton and Dawson Hamby, who was a courtesy runner for Heavner. The inning ends with South Caldwell retaking the lead at 5-4. The 4th inning saw each team add one run. Nathan Hall hit the first home run of the tournament for South Caldwell, and Davis Hendren picked up an RBI for Port City by sacrificing to center field, driving in Dylan Cooper. The score was now 6-5 in favor of Post 29.
In the top of the 5th, Auton scores from 3rd on a passed ball, and with two outs, Chase Cardwell scores on a line drive to right field from Nathan Hall. After five innings, Post 29 moved to an 8-5 lead. South Caldwell added some insurance runs in the top of the 7th. Nathan Hall lined to left field, scoring Chase Cardwell. With two outs, pitching woes continued to haunt Port City as a wild pitch advances Koda Beard to 3rd and Nathan Hall to 2nd. Another wild pitch scores Beard while sending Hall down to 3rd. Yet another wild pitch allows Hall to score, giving South Caldwell a comfortable 11-5 lead going into the bottom of the inning. Port City failed to score, ending the game. The winning pitcher for South Caldwell was Nathan Hall. Post 29 scored 11 runs, on 9 hits, and made 2 errors. The top hitters were Nathan Hall, 4-5, scoring two runs and driving in 4 RBIs. Chase Cardwell, who went 2-3, scored 3 runs, with 2 RBIs. Graham Heavner was 2-3 at the plate and had 1 RBI. Port City scored 5 runs on 9 hits and committed 1 error. The leading hitters for Post 545 were Dylan Cooper, who went 3- 4 and scored 2 runs. Davis Hendron was 2-3 with 2 RBIs and Will Coward hit 2-3 with 1 RBI. Sunday games will have Port City in an elimination game against Roanoke at 10 am, and South Caldwell will face West Stokes County at 4 pm in the winner's bracket.
The final game of day one was between the Area IV Champion and the Host team, Cherryville Post 100 and Wilson Post 13. The game began with Post 13 coming out of the gate swinging, with three straight singles to open the game. Davis Turner scored the first run on Andrew Rine's single, and Tanner Pierce grounded out, but it scored Tanner Pierce. After one inning, Wilson took an early 2-0 lead. It would prove to be all the offense Post 13 would need, with Post 100 never getting into a hitting groove, coupled with Wilson playing error-free baseball. Cherryville pitchers were able to work out of a jam in three innings, forcing Wilson to leave the bases loaded three times. Wilson scored 5 runs on 8 hits and no errors. Cherryville scored 1 run on 3 hits and made 2 errors. Post 100 had hits from Kenan Fowler, Davin Digh, and Blake Mitchell. This is not how fans wanted the host team to begin; however, plenty of games remain in the tournament, and every team playing is an excellent team. They should bounce back from this minor setback. Post100 will need to keep winning with every game left being an elimination game in this double-elimination format. Sunday, Cherryville will play at 1 pm against Hope Mills Post 32, and Wilson will face Matthews Post 235 at 7:30 pm.
Come Out To The Ballgames
It was a beautiful day for baseball, although a little on the hot side. Please wear sunscreen and find shade when possible. Don't forget to stay hydrated. The ladies' auxiliary has plenty of cold drinks and water in the concession stand, as well as some delicious food. There are souvenirs for sale, including some nice T-shirts, replica team caps, and sun hats. All-day admission is just $10, with four more days left. If you are looking for inexpensive entertainment for the whole family, come out to the park. Just a reminder that you might want to consider parking in the large parking lot across from the First Baptist Church, if you are paranoid about foul balls hitting your car.
Tournament Location
John L. "Buck" Fraley Field - North Pink Street - Cherryville, NC 28021
Bracket Update Thru Day 1
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