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Legion team movin' on

Burke sweeps Lincoln, advances to next round of playoffs against Pineville on Sunday

Jennifer Frew | The News Herald

American Legion Burke Post 21 player Dykota Spiess, No. 14, swings the bat during a game against Lincoln Post 455 on Wednesday. Post 21 swept Post 455 in the best-of-five playoff series with a 12-2 win on Wednesday.

By Matt Collins | The News Herald

Published: July 1, 2009

Updated: 07/02/2009 05:07 pm

Morganton - UPDATE: The No. 4-ranked American Legion Burke Post 21 baseball team (12-7 division), fresh off its 3-0 sweep of Lincoln Post 455, travels to Charlotte Ardrey Kell High to face No. 1 Pineville Post 337 on Sunday for Game 1 of the best-of-five second-round playoff series.
Game 2 will be at Shuey Field in Morganton at 7 p.m. on Monday and Game 3 will be back in Charlotte on Tuesday. Game 4, if necessary, will be in Morganton on Wednesday and the final Game 5, if necessary, will be at Ardrey Kell on Thursday.
Post 337 (16-5 division) swept Henderon Post 77 3-0 to reach the second round. Post 337 is out of the Eastern Division of the Area IV region, while Post 21 is out of the Western Division.
Post 337 eliminated Post 21 from the playoffs last year.

From Wednesday:
Three games, seven innings apiece, two teams playing, one team moving on.
That team is Post 21.
The American Legion Burke Post 21 baseball team beat Lincoln Post 455 12-2 in seven innings on Wednesday.
Post 21 swept the best-of-five series with the victory.
Post 455 coach Brian Bolick didn't have much to say after the three-game sweep. However, when he was asked what his team can learn from this, he said, "Learn from Burke. They played aggressive and made the plays."
"I thought we played aggressive all three games," Post 21 Ron Swink. "We weren't satisfied with where we were at. We always wanted more. We always wanted another base."
Post 455 put up a quick run in the top of the first inning, but Post 21 answered with eight runs in the next three.
After two runs in the bottom of the first, Trevor Tallent hit a strong single to left field in the second inning. Then, Matt Baker placed a pretty bunt that was supposed to be a sacrifice but instead, Post 455 pitcher Byron Sherrill bobbled the ball and Baker reached first.
The runners advanced on a wild pitch and then Donnie Hughes rocked a hit over the left-center-field wall to drive in three.
Post 21 pitcher Nick Newton used consistent pitch placement and selection to hold Post 455 to two runs off of six hits in five innings pitched. He struck out five, walked three and hit two batters.
"Nick Newton pitched himself in and out of trouble," Swink said. "They scored, we scored two and then Donnie hits the big home run."
In the bottom of the third inning, Post 21 put three more across the plate. Tre Young, who finished 2-4, smoked a single passed third baseman Spencer Gardner. After he moved to second on a wild pitch, Tallent scorched a double down the left-field line that scored Young. Then, Baker drilled the ball to the hole in left field and scored Tallent, who ran into a close play at the plate.
Post 455 relief pitcher Shane Denton came in the game in the bottom of the third inning after the irreparable damage had been done. He kept Post 21 hitless until the seventh inning, until Baker hit a tricky fly ball that landed just inside fair territory and bounced into the far right-field corner. The hit scored Tallent, who reached base on a walk.
"We came out of the gate well, then they put in Denton and he threw well," Swink said.
"Corey (Rhoney) had that great game (Game 1 when he threw a near no hitter) and O'Dear (held Post 455 to two runs in a 15-2 blowout) and now this. Anytime you can win three games in seven innings, it's outstanding," Swink said.

Post 455 100 010 0 — 2
Post 21 233 000 4 —12
Newton, Hopkins (6) and Fine; Sherrill, Denton (3), Mostellar (7) and Guice.