The winning streak for Chatham County Post 292 is back to zero after last week’s Heroes League action.
In two one-run games, Post 292 split the outcomes, beating Wayne Post 11 19U, 2-1, and losing to South Wake for the first time this season, 7-6. The loss, Chatham County’s second defeat of the year, broke its seven-game winning streak.
Against Post 11 on June 17, the game came down to a defensive battle.
Chatham got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning after an error made on Avery Kiger’s flyball sent Logan Gunter and Jaylee Williams home. Post 11 responded in the top of the second inning with its only run of the game which came after a sacrifice by Hayli Verme allowed Sarah Hess to score.
Outside of that, both pitchers gave batters a hard time, and Chatham’s defense helped with crucial outs.
Post 292 pitcher Dakota Redmon pitched all seven innings and struck out eight batters. After allowing three hits and having a runner on third base in the top of the third inning, Chatham County right fielder Calissa Clendenin threw the runner out at home to prevent the tying run.
From there, both teams traded quick innings and Verme, Post 11’s pitcher, took care of business on the mound, too. She struck out seven batters in six innings, but Post 11 just couldn’t take advantage of its scoring opportunities.
In the top of the seventh with two outs and Hannah Lee in scoring position, Redmon got the last laugh, striking out Hailey King to once again halt the tying run and win the game.
Against South Wake on June 19, a team Chatham County has beaten twice this season, Post 292 had a better showing at the plate, but its opponent did just as well.
Both teams recorded nine hits and six RBIs. Kiger gave Chatham County a huge spark to start the game, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to give Post 292 a 2-0 lead.
South Wake bounced back with an even stronger response, knocking in four hits and being walked four times to score six runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first run may have been the most costly for Chatham County as it was scored on a wild pitch.
Down 6-2 going into the fourth inning, Chatham County’s Emma Burke chipped away at the deficit with a two-RBI double that sent Katherine Gaines and Logan Gunter home. South Wake once again responded with another run in the bottom of the inning, keeping a three-run lead until Post 292’s last chance in the top of the seventh.
With zero outs, Kiger delivered once again with a two-run homer, bringing the deficit to just one run. Chatham County’s Sophia Murchison and Marcy Clark reached first base thereafter, and while Sydney Russell grounded out for the second out of the inning, Murchison made it to third base.
Yet, in the next at-bat, Lilli Hicks hit the ball right to South Wake’s shortstop, leaving Chatham County’s winning runs on base and ending the game.
Following Monday’s rematch with Post 11, Post 292 will play Post 11 twice more (July 10 and July 22) and South Wake once more (July 15).
As of Sunday, Chatham County is 7-2 overall and 2-1 in region three play, sitting in second place in the region standings behind Post 11 (3-1 in region play). Post 292’s remaining games are all against regional opponents.