Post 45 finally opens wet season ... with a bang

ASHEBORO — For Randolph County Post 45, patience paid off very handsomely Saturday night at McCrary Park. After seeing its season-opening game postponed three times, Post 45 finally saw American Legion action and played like they had been itching to get on the field to start the new season. 

After spotting Wadesboro Post 180 a run in the top of the first, Post 45 scored 12 times in the bottom of the first and rolled to a 16-3 victory over a program that is in just its third year of existence.

“It felt good,” longtime assistant and first-year head coach Andrew Connor said. “The kids were excited to be out there, the coaches were excited to be out there and it looked like we were ready to play.”

The first inning featured six hits, six walks, the top five players in the Post 45 lineup scoring twice each, an error, three different pitchers for Wadesboro and a total of 82 pitches thrown before three outs were recorded.

“They were chomping at the bit, ready to get out there,” Connor said. “They were like, ‘Is it time to take in and out, is it time to stretch.’ We get there early and run through some things.”

After Post 45 had games against Kannapolis, Moore County and Mocksville postponed because of the weather, Randolph County made its first offensive inning of the season a memorable one. 

Hudson Deel, who hit .471 for Rockingham County High School this past season, blasted a two-run homer after Brady Armfield knocked in the first two runs of the inning with a double. Ashton Poe added a two-run triple, Jake Riddle knocked in a run with a hit, Armfield added a second two-run hit and Sam Gore, Tate Andrews and Poe knocked in three more runs before the inning came to an end. 

“We were hitting the ball on the nose, came out and had some good at-bats, grinded out a few of them,” Connor said.

Post 45 added four runs in the second for a 16-2 lead as Jackson Hill, Gore and Andrews had run-scoring hits.

Connor said there were no nerves in his head coaching debut.

“It kind of felt like when I filled in for Coach (Ronnie) Pugh last season,” he said. “Fill the lineup out, take the baseballs up there and get out of the way.”

Armfield was the only player with two hits for Post 45. Sean Jennison pitched three innings, giving up three runs. Kyle Dillow pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

This week, Post 45, which was scheduled to play at Kannapolis Monday, will host Liberty Post 81 Wednesday and travel to Mocksville-Davie Thursday.