MCBRIDE THROWS THREE-HITTFR
Laurinburg Edges
Brunswick For Area
II Legion Title
BY DOUG R UTTER
Time finally ran out on the
"Cardiac Kids" of American Legion
baseball.
After coming from behind to win
its two previous playoff series,
Brunswick County's season ended
Saturday night with a 2-1 loss to
Laurinburg in the seventh and decid
ing game of the Area U champi
onship series.
Laurinburg scored single runs in
the third and fourth innings and held
on for the victory. Brunswick Post 68
ended the year with a 26-15 record,
while Laurinburg Post 50 (24-6) ad
vanced to the state semifinals.
"We have nothing to be ashamed
of when you lose the area champi
onship by one run," Post 68 Coach
Ed Lewis said. "I'm very proud of
this team. They picked themselves
up off the floor three times."
Brunswick, which came from be
hind against Whitevillc and Wilm
ington to win its first Area II Eastern
Division title in 12 years, nearly
squeaked past Laurinburg.
Post 50 had taken a 3-1 lead in
the bcst-of-scvcn series, but Bruns
wick County won the next two
games to set up the championship
contest Saturday night at North
Brunswick High School in Lcland.
Post 68 appeared to have the ad
vantage going into the game. Bruns
wick County had won two straight,
was playing at home and was 5-0
when facing elimination from the
playoffs.
Coach Lewis also had one of his
aces on the mound, and right-hander
Casey McBridc baffled Post 50's
batters all night McBridc had a one
hitter through seven innings and
recorded 14 strike outs in the game.
"Casey pitched well under pres
sure," Lewis said of the rising junior
at North Brunswick. "You can't
throw any better than that and lose.
He's got a bright future."
Ironically, two of McBridc's
strike outs led to Laurinburg's first
run. Post 50 look a 1-0 lead in the
third inning when Jeremy Hudson
reached base on a third strike that
eluded catcher Robert Hewett and
rolled to the backstop.
After Hudson stole second base,
McBridc struck out Tommy McKay.
For the second time, however, the
third strike squirted out of Hewett's
milt and McKay took off for first
base.
Instead of throwing to first for the
sure out, Hewett attempted to gun
down Hudson at third base. His
throw sailed into left field and
Hudson irotied home.
Laurinburg bumped its lead to 2-0
in the fourth when Jonathan Jackson
drew a Icadoff walk, moved to sec
ond on a wild pickoff throw and
scored on Robbie Lowcry's base hit.
McBridc held Post 50 scoreless
over the final five innings, but
Brunswick County couldn't get any
thing going at the plate.
Laurinburg's starting pitcher,
McKay, gave up four hits and four
walks in four-plus innings. Reliever
Ray Greene gave up one run and
three hits in four innings and Jack
son pitched the ninth.
Post 68 scored its only run in the
eighth when Adrian Black singled
and scored from third on a two-out
wild pilch by Greene.
Brunswick County had several
chances to score run*. Post 68 left
nine runners on base and stranded
runners in scoring position in the
third, fourth, seventh and ninth in
nings.
Brunswick's best scoring opportu
nity camc in the fifth when Bert
HalchcU and Jeremy Child hit back
to-back singles to put runners at the
comers with no outs.
Demetrius Bell followed with a
fly ball to left field. HalchcU, who
had two hits in the game, tagged up
at third base but hesitated after leav
ing the bag and was out at home.
"The thing 1 preached to this team
time after time was you can't make
menial mistakes and win," Coach
Lewis said. "We made two menial
mistakes that cost us tonight."
Despite the heartbreaking loss,
Lewis had nothing but praise for his
club. Brunswick County finished
third in the Area II Eastern Division
during the regular season with a 13
5 record.
In the Area II East playoffs,
Brunswick rallied from a 2-0 series
deficit to defeat Whitcvillc Post 137
three games to two.
Post 68 then lost the first game to
Wilmington Post 10 before coming
back to win the best-of-seven cham
pionship series 4-2. The Area II
Eastern Division title was the first
for Post 68 sincc 1981 .
"Every year we've taken a step
and this year was another step," said
Lewis, in his sixth year as head
coach of Post 68.
"If anybody told me we were go
ing to be 26-15 at the end of the year
1 would have laughed at them. We
didn't have the most talent, but our
kids played with heart all year."
Game Summary
Laurin. 001 10 0 0 0 (>?2 3 0
Bruns. 0000000 1 0?1 7 2
PLAYOFF SERIFS RECAP
Game 1 Laurin. 6, Bruns. 0
Game 2 Bruns. 3, Laurin. 1
Game 3 Laurin. 12, Bruns. 11
Game 4 Laurin. 1 1 , Bruns. 5
Game 5 Bruns. 10, Laurin. 9
Game 6 Bruns. 8, Laurin. 6
Game 7 Laurin. 2, Brunsw. I
Post 68 Wins One In Laurinburg
BY DOUG RUTTKR
Brunswick County managed to win one oul of three
road games last week in its best-of-scvcn American Le
gion Area II baseball championship series against Lau
rinburg.
Post 68 scored three runs in the lop of the 10th in
ning last Thursday night at Scotland County High
School and held on for a 10-9 victory in Game 5 of the
series.
Brunswick's dramatic win cut Laurinburg's series
lead to 3-2 and sent the series back to Post 68 's home
field in Leland, where the teams split the first two
games.
Laurinburg had a chance to clinch the Area II cham
pionship last Thursday at home and held an early 4-0
lead before Brunswick County rallied for five runs in the
fourth inning.
Adrian Black blasted a two-run home run and Jer
emy Child followed with a two-run single to give Post
68 a 5-4 lead. Brunswick added two more in the sixth on
a passed ball and sacrifice fly.
Laurinburg Post 50 tied the game with three runs in
the bottom of the sixth and neither team scored in the
last three innings.
In the top of the 10th, Laurinburg pitcher Elliott
Lowery issued a pair of bases-loaded walks as Post 68
grabbed a 10-7 lead. Laurinburg scored twice in the bot
tom of the 10th and had the bases loaded when Jeremy
Hudson lined out to end the game.
Alter splitting the first two games of the series in
Lcland, Laurinburg won the next two on its home field.
In Game 4, Post 50 jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three
innings and cruised to an 11-5 victory.
Brunswick County trailed 9-0 after five innings, but
rallied for five runs in the sixth. Casey McBride had an
RBI double to ignite the rally. Robert Hewctt, Glen
Hildreth, Bert Hatchcll and Jared McGcc also knocked
in runs for Post 68.
Post 50 had 11 hits and benefited from four Bruns
wick County errors. Five Laurinburg pitchers combined
on a five-hitter.
Laurinburg had taken a 2-1 scries lead last Tuesday
night with a wild, 12-11 victory in Game 3 at ScoUand
High. Post 50 scored three runs in the bottom of the
ninth to win a game that featured five lead changes.
Brunswick County led 5-3 after five innings, but
Laurinburg scored six runs in the sixth to take a 9-5
lead. Post 68 battled back with six runs of its own over
the next two innings to take an 1 1-9 advantage.
Brothers Mike and Robert Hewctt each had two-run
doubles in the four-run seventh inning. McGcc's two
run home run in the eighth gave Brunswick County a
two-run lead.
But with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Post 68
reliever Paul Mintz gave up a single to Laurinburg's
Brent Butler that sent home the tying and winning runs.
Hildreth Is Hero In Game 6 Win
BY DOUG RUTTER
Glen Hildrcih pitchcd Brunswick
Couniy to an 8-6 win over Laur
inburg last Friday night in Game 6
of the bcsi-of-scvcn American Le
gion Area II championship series.
Hildrcih, a 16-year-old from Easi
Columbus High School, relieved
starting pitcher Mike Hcwetl in the
second inning after Hewett walked
four Laurinburg batters, including
two with the bases loaded.
Hildreth made the most of his re
lief appearance, pitching into the
ninth inning. He yielded just three
runs on three hits while striking out
eight. Jared McGee recorded the fi
nal three outs for the save.
"This game belonged to Glen Hil
dreth," Brunswick Couniy Coach Ed
Lewis said. "Jared did a tremendous
job coming in and shutting them
down in the ninth, but Glen got us to
that point."
The home victory for Brunswick
Post 68 evened the series at three
games apiece after Laurinburg Post
50 had taken a 3-1 series lead by
winning two out of the three games
in Scotland County.
Post 68 jumped oui to a 3-0 lead
in the first inning. Jeremy Child led
off with a walk, McGce singled and
both scored on Adrian Black's dou
ble to left-center field. Black came
home on Casey McBridc's single.
Laurinburg tied the score at 3-3 in
the top of the second when Heweti
lost his control. He walked four bat
ters and committed an error that al
lowed another to reach base.
With one out and the bases load
ed, Hildreth came on in relief. Be
fore retiring the side, Hildreth un
corked a wild pilch that allowed the
tying run to score from third.
Brunswick County went back in
front in the bottom of the second
when third baseman Kelley Myers
walked and scored on Bert Hat
chcll's double to right-center field.
Post 68 added one more run in the
fourth on Child's solo home run to
left field. Brunswick bumped its
lead to 8-3 in the sixth on a run
scoring double by Demetrius Bell,
suicide squeeze bunt by McGcc and
RBI single by Hildreth.
Laurinburg made a late run at
Post 68, scoring two runs in the sev
enth as Brunswick County commit
ted four infield errors.
Post 50 added one run in the ninth
on a wild pitch, but McGcc struck
out the last two baiters to nail down
the win.
Game Summary
Laurin. 03000020 1? 6 3 3
Bruns. 3 1 0 1 0 3 00X? 8 13 5
r~Shallotte Health Ibod^l
i
i
i
L
We carry a wide variety of vitamins by Solaray,
Country Life, Nature's Plus, Michaels, etc. Herbs by
Star West, Inner Health, Solaray, Nature's Way, etc.
Herbal teas by Traditional, Alvita, Laci Le Beau, Wide
variety of foods, snacks, frozen snacks, cold juices,
spring waters, etc.
Bring this ad in for $2. 00 off
any $15 or more purchase.
Open Monday-Friday 9:30-5:30, Saturday 10-1
754-2113
4753 Main Street ? Shallotte
CI 893 THE BRUNSWICK
I
I
I
Trade In Your
Trailer For A
CUSTOM BUILT HONE
? We Build And Finance * Your Plan Or Ours *
? 100% FINANCING (On Your Lot) ?
? No Down Payment ? No Closing Cost ?
Call Paul Grant Toaay
1-800-331-7053
EASTERN BUILDERS INC.
TJs
i. AUTO
ELECTRIC
ALTERNATORS STARTERS
VOLTAGE REGULATORS GENERATORS
REPAIR? REBUILT? EXCHANGED
AUTOMOTIVE WIRING
754-7656
Royal Oak Road & Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte
1991 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON
CHICORA
Medical Group
Complete Primary Care
Adults Children
Hospital (<C?) Minor
Care r^r<\ Emergencies
Lee Langston, MD ? Jon Langston, PAC ? Roger F. Nelson, MD
"We have 2 locations for your convenience
Shallotte Seaside
341 Whiteville Rd.(Hwy. 130 W) Seaside Plaza (Jet. Hwy. 179 & 904) |
754-8731 579-8512
ir
Call for appointment-Vacationers & Walk-ins Welcome. ?
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HUTTtd
BRUNSWICK COUNTY PITCHER Casey McBride struck out 14
batters and gave up just three hits in Saturday night's 2-1 loss to
iMurinburg.
We Salute ERA Pinehurst
Builders ? Calabash
We're proud to have provided paving
services for your parking lot extension.
Helping Brunswick County Grow!
Grading And
Paving Contractor
754-7177
Asphalt Plant-2 miles north of Shallotte on Hwy. 17
We refuse to be undersold! Try us...
4909 Main St. (next to Food Folks) Also Locations In:
Shallotte Whiteville ? Wilmington ? Wallace
C19OT THE BnuffSWtCK BEACON
, Great American Values
l.OOO.OOO. TO LOAN
J^V
iEr WE WANT VOUR
LOAN BUSINESS.
Pawn USA maintains a reputation of
customer service second to no one.
To protect your property we offer:
?Computerized pawn & inventory control
?State-of-the-art alarm system
?Steel bars to secure doors & windows
?Large fireproof jewelry safe
?Sealed security bags for fine jewelry