The Burke County Post 21 American Legion baseball team suffered through an 8-0 shutout loss at suddenly-surging Shelby Post 82 on Father’s Day Sunday.
The loss was Post 21’s second in a row after their eight-day midseason break and dropped them to eighth-place in Area IV’s Western Division, while Post 82 has won eight of their last nine outings after a 2-5 start.
Post 21 (5-8, 4-8) left 13 men on base and couldn’t find a way to score a run despite having seven hits and putting a runner in scoring position seven times.
Early on it was the Morganton leather that shined, as Shelby’s Sterling Cole punished a ball into the gap in right. Running to his right, Burke’s Alex McGee made a sensational catch as he reached over his head and gloved the ball near the warning track.
In the second inning, it was Cameron Moore’s turn for Burke County. Shelby’s Landon Ellis smashed a ball toward the right-field gap, but from left-centerfield, Moore dove for the ball to make a remarkable catch for the out.
All would be scoreless until Shelby’s turn at the bat in the fourth.
Following a triple into the left-field corner by Ellis, Mason McCullough took one pitch to deliver a two-run shot just over the right-field wall for the lead. Phillip Black’s RBI base hit crossed another run as Shelby went up 3-0.
Burke had a opportunity in the top half of the fifth, however, when Tyler Hopkins led off with a single to left and an infield error allowed Donnie Hughes to reach with no outs. The momentum was short-lived after Burke’s season leader in home runs, Tre Young (2 for 4), stuck out swinging and Brent Rowe’s lineout at shortstop doubled up Hughes at first base to end the frame.
In the bottom of the same inning, Cole smacked an RBI single to left and McCullough finished off Burke with a two-run double to left. With Post 82’s lead at 6-0, Burke didn’t have a response even with the bases loaded during the seventh.
Cole took the win on the hill for Shelby (10-6, 4-6), tossing a six-hitter in six innings pitched while issuing two walks and striking out seven. His teammate was even better, as the right-handed sidearm slinger Phillip Black allowed just one hit in three innings of relief.
Lucas Clarke was hit with loss on the mound for Post 21 after giving up four runs on eight hits during four frames on the hill with four Ks.
Burke will try to get back in the win column today as they host Alexander County Post 170 before traveling to face Rutherford County Post 423 on Wednesday.
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