Post 29 rolls over Gaston

Jun. 8—GRANITE FALLS — Caldwell Post 29's baseball team captured that elusive first victory on Wednesday night.

Snapping a four-game skid, the 29ers hammered the Gaston Braves 17-6 in American Legion action at M.S. Deal Stadium.

"It's really good to see the guys coming together," Post 29 manager Philip Hamby said. "I could see it starting to happen over the last few games."

Mason Reising led the charge with a pair of home runs.

"We're finally starting to click together," Reising said. "Finally came with a big win. It felt good."

Gaston led 4-2, before Post 29 cut loose for seven runs in the third inning and surged to a 9-4 cushion.

Reising led off the third with a solo homer. Zane Dorsey doubled, stole third base and crossed on a wild pitch to tie it up.

Cooper Critcher's run-scoring single propelled Caldwell ahead for good. Critcher batted 3 for 4 with two runs and a pair of RBIs.

A double error sent in the next score, before Easton King's run-scoring single. A pair of 29ers were then walked in.

"The bats are finally coming along," Hamby said. "Our leaders are starting to emerge. It was a great team effort."

Gaston trimmed the deficit to 9-5 when an error plated a run in the fourth. Post 29 responded with eight runs in its next at-bat.

King ignited the flurry with a run-scoring single. He batted 2 for 3 with three RBIs and three runs.

Tristan Mearns plated a score, before a two-run blast from Reising.

"I always try to expect a good game," Reising said, "but it's hard to expect two home runs."

Critcher and Ryan Winkler each delivered run-scoring singles, and a pair of 29ers were walked in to push the rout to 17-5.

"And top through the bottom of the lineup we're getting hits," Hamby said. "Now we have to carry the momentum."

King, the reliever, walked in a run in the fifth, before the mercy rule ended the game.

Gaston assumed a 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Gavin Gibson hit a run-scoring single, and another Brave crossed on an error.

In the bottom half, Mearns and Dorsey each tagged run-scoring singles to knot it up.

Garrison Carpenter's two-run single pushed Gaston ahead 4-2 in the third.

Post 29 starter Ellias Morales worked three innings, scattering five hits and allowing three earned runs. He struck out three, walked two with a wild pitch.

King pitched the final two innings, serving up one hit and allowing one earned run. He fanned one and walked four with a wild pitch.

Dorsey batted 2 for 2 with two runs. Reising was 2 for 3 with the three RBIs, and was beaned in his plate appearance between homers.

Mearns had two RBIs and scored twice. Hunter Philyaw was good for a pair of runs.

The 29ers stranded nine base runners and committed three errors.

Gibson went 2 for 3, the only Brave with two hits.

Gaston's Chase Stewart lasted two innings, getting touched for two hits and walking two with a wild pitch and one strikeout. Elijah Southerland took the mound for 2/3 of an inning, getting roughed up for four hits with three earned runs, two walks, a wild pitch and one stikeout.

Carden Green pitched one inning and served up three hits and four earned runs. He fanned two, walked five, hurled two wild pitches and hit two batters while striking out a pair.

Gavin Carpenter worked 1/3 of inning with two hits and three walks.

The Braves also left nine on, and made six errors.

Post 29 is back at home on Saturday when Hickory visits.

"It felt really good," Reising said. "The team was good, finally clicking. Fired on all cylinders.

"The pitching was good. We fielded good. Great game."