Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The first two days of the tournament have contained a mix of everything baseball fans would expect at this point in the season. Saturday, we saw four high-scoring games that were not decided until the final inning; any of them could have gone either way. Sunday offered four high-scoring games as well; however, each game was one-sided, mostly due to stellar pitching and strong defense shutting down otherwise powerful offenses.
After only two days of play, there have already been 136 total runs scored through eight games. So far, there have been some unexpected game results that have made for some interesting matchups going forward. As day three concludes, we will have said goodbye to two more teams, reducing our field down to the final four. What will day three hold in store as four teams will battle to avoid elimination, and two will slug it out to see who moves forward unblemished.
There is plenty of great baseball waiting to be played. You'll want to catch all the action in this exhilarating tournament. Enough talking; let's get to the action on the field.
Our day opened with Garner's leadoff batter, Aiden Taylor, doubling to right field. Next up, Carrick Ryan walks. It appears Garner is going to get on track early. John Lupienski grounds into a double play, followed by Cole Norris flying out to right field, ending the early threat. The first three Pitt County batters go down in order.
Post 232's #32 Aiden Taylor batting - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Rycker Butcher singles with two out in the bottom of the second to give Pitt some life. A bad throw on a pick-off attempt sends him to second. Jaiden Floyd puts Post 39 on the board first when he drives in Butcher on a single.
Garner began to take control of the game as we entered the fourth inning. John Lupienski leads off with a well-hit line drive single to center field. Cole Norris also sends a line drive to center field. Hayden Fones sacrifices to third. Jace Jones ties the game at 1-1 when he knocks in Lupienski. Landon Berry reaches on an error that scores Cole Norris. Garner has the lead 2-1.
The most damage is done by Ajay Rychcik as he rips a three-run homer over the right field fence. The Garner Nationals extend their lead 5-1.
Garner Nationals Post 232 celebrating Ajay Rychcik's home run- Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Pitt County's half of the inning started with Ethan Simmons walking, and two outs quickly followed. Max Mason singles to right field, and then both runners advance on a wild pitch. Chase White walks to load the bases with two outs, and suddenly, Pitt is getting the momentum back in its favor. Unfortunately, a fielder's choice ends the rally attempt, as they leave the bases loaded and plate no runs.
The top of the fifth begins with Garner realizing they need to get a few insurance runs. Things start well as Carrick Ryan opens with a center field single, John Lupienski hits the first pitch he sees to double a line shot. Runners at second and third with no outs, Cole Norris, who has had a hot bat all game, rockets a two-run single into right field, and the Nationals begin to put some space between them and Pitt County, as they now lead 7-1.
Fones sacrifices, Jace Jones is then hit by a pitch, Landon Berry reached on an error, that sends Norris in for the score, everything is beginning to go Garner's way as Ajay Rychcik drives Jones home with a line shot to right field for a double, still only one out and runners on second and third. The score runs to 11-1 as Purvis nails a two-run double to left field. Two groundouts end the 6-run, 5-hit top of the fifth.
Pitt County Post 39 players watching the game - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
The season is on the line as Pitt County enters the bottom of the fifth. They need at least one run to avoid a run-rule-shortened game and keep their hopes alive. Tanner Pinner is hit by a pitch, then takes second base on a wild pitch. Camden Wilson is walked to put runners at first and second with no outs. Colby Jones singles to load the bases with no outs.
Ethan flies out for the first out. Rycker Butcher strikes out for out two. Jaiden Floyd steps up to the plate. The count goes full at 3-2, and he flies out to end the game.
Final score: Garner won 11-1 in five innings with 10 hits and made one error. They advance to Tuesday's semi-final round, where the opponent and time will be determined based on the outcome of the next two games and previous tournament matchups. Pitt County scored 1 run on 6 hits and committed two errors. They have now been eliminated. We are down to five teams, with another to be eliminated late this afternoon.
This was a clash between Area III and Area IV runners-up. Both teams entered the contest with almost identical win-loss records and were both 1-1 in tournament play. There was an interesting matchup at coaching, with extremely successful first-year Seth Graham for Rowan County and Bobby Dale Reynolds, the winningest North Carolina legion coach for Cherryville Post 100.
Both coaches have gotten maximum production from their teams all season. This one might come down to which team gets the most breaks going their way. Both teams have sound pitching and can explode for runs at the plate.
Rowan County Post 342's #16 getting ready to bat - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Rowan County got off to the hot start they were looking for, Cole Blevins gets on base with a little blooper single, Marshall Faw hits a long fly that takes a bounce off the left field wall for a double. Carter Durant bounces a two-run double over third base that goes into left field. Rowan is up 2-0.
Brice Knox strikes out, Luke Ponczka also strikes out. Drew Pegram and Cam Williamson both walk, bases loaded with two outs. Eli Graham hits into a fielder's choice at shortstop. Cherryville tries to answer back as Nate Rollins takes a four-pitch walk. Preston Henson and Evan Matile both sacrifice to advance Rollins, who is now on third. He is left stranded when Tucker Sigmon flies out.
Post 342's #9 Cameron Williamson batting - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Gaige Scruggs opens the second inning with a single, Cole Blevins doubles to left field, and Marshall Faw sacrifices a fly ball to right field that scores Scruggs for a 3-0 lead. Carter Durant hits a high pop-up that Eli Webb has trouble tracking, so Tucker Sigmon charges in from first and catches it just in front of home plate. Brice Knox strikes out.
No scoring threats from either team until the top of the fourth when Cole Blevins shoots the gap for a triple to center field, he is stranded when Marshall Faw grounds out to second.
Post 100 began a rally attempt in the bottom of the fourth as Preston Henson and Evan Matile both walked, Tucker Sigmon beats out the throw on a bunt to load the bases with no outs. Landon Jenkins hits a deep sacrifice fly to center field to score Henson. 3-1. Talon Dalton pops out to second, Zane Williams singles to left field, but not deep enough to score a run. Bases are loaded with two outs when Eli Black flies out to right field. After four complete innings, Rowan County leads 3-1.
Post 342's Luke Ponczka batting - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Carter Durant flies out to start the fifth inning, Brice Knox hits a single to center field, and Luke Ponczka drives him in to go ahead 4-1. Tyler Gates comes in to relieve Brayden Reynolds on the mound. Drew Pegram walks, Cam Williamson singles to left field, loading the bases. Eli Graham gets his first hit of the day at an opportune time, as Ponczka crosses the plate. Rowan extends the lead to 5-1.
Play is stopped for a weather delay due to rain and lightning in the distance. Game resumed play after about a 45-minute delay. Gaige Scruggs hits into a double play, leaving the bases loaded. Score remains 5-1.
Cherryville Post 100 players returning to the dugout for the lightning delay - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Nate Rollins walks with one out. Preston Henson hits a fielder's choice, resulting in Rollins being out at second. Henson steals second and advances to third on a throwing error by the catcher. He is stranded at third as the next batter strikes out.
Cole Blevins gets his fourth base hit of the game, then steals second. Marshall Faw rips a base hit, and Blevins beats the one bouncer throw to home plate, pulling further ahead at 6-1. Carter Durant singles, Jacob English comes in relief for Tyler Gates, Brice Knox strikes out, Luke Ponczka sacrifices to score Faw, 7-1. Drew Pegram pops out to shortstop.
With two outs, Cherryville began a rally attempt at the bottom of the sixth inning. Talon Dalton walked, Zane Williams singled to shortstop, and Braydon Reynolds was hit by a pitch. Bases are loaded with two outs, down 7-1. A ground out leads the bases loaded for the second time today.
Post 100's #1 Talon Dalton swinging - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
In the final frame, Rowan County tries to put the game away. Cam Williamson singles, followed by Eli Graham, who also gets a single. Gaige Scruggs sacrifices to advance the runners. Cole Blevins hits a deep fly out to left field; Reynolds throws a BB to throw Williamson out at the plate.
Post 100 entered the bottom of the seventh needing six runs to tie and 7 to win. C. Hales relieves Brant Graham on the mound. Nate Rollins leads off with a single, Preston Henson singles as well, Evan Matile drives in a run on a single to center field, Tucker Sigmon walks, to load the bases with no outs. Landon Jenkins hit a one-run single to close the score to 7-3.
The bases are still loaded. Unfortunately, they are left loaded for the third time after two flyouts and a strikeout end the game.
The scoreboard showing that the bases are loaded - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Final score: Rowan County scored seven runs, on 15 hits, and made one error. They improve to 28-9 and will play in another elimination game on Tuesday. Cherryville scored three runs on seven hits and committed no errors. Post 100 finishes the season with a record of 26-11. Cherryville is eliminated.
The final four teams are now set. Wilmington, Asheville, Rowan County, and Garner will all play on Tuesday. The game times and matchups will not be determined until after the final game. The same two teams are not allowed to play each other twice before the final round, unless a previous matchup cannot be avoided.
The matchups should be Rowan County versus Wilmington and Garner versus Asheville, with the game time determined by the outcome of Monday's final game. We'll try to have the correct game times and matches listed before our publishing deadline.
The final game of the night featured the two remaining undefeated teams squaring off in the winner's bracket. The winner will be the lone undefeated team heading into Tuesday, and the other three will all have one loss; that's a huge advantage, making this an important game.
Wilmington Post 10's #34 Cameron Croom getting ready to bat - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Wilmington could only muster a single off the bat of Camden Croom in their first turn at bat. Asheville began the bottom half of the inning with a base hit from leadoff batter Jordan Brown. A passed ball advances him to second base, with two outs, Brown scores off a sacrifice fly hit by Caden Davidson.
Asheville takes a 2-0 lead when Ziermann is driven in by Micah Simpson. Wilmington goes down in order as the second begins. Asheville adds two more runs to go up 4-0 when Kolt Nelson reached on an error that scores both Hillier and Buchanan. Post 70 adds another run to go up 5-0 as Micah Simpson scores on an error by the catcher in the third inning.
Wilmington gets things rolling in the fourth, adding three runs on Jake Jeffrey's three-run double to right field. His hit scores Mason, Welch, and Jones, cutting into the Asheville lead by a score of 5-3.
Post 70's Micah Simpson stepping up to bat - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
After one out, Asheville gets their run back when Kolt Nelson is hit by a pitch, Evan Conner and Caden Davidson both walk, and Nelson scores on a balk by the pitcher. Asheville was not finished scoring just yet. Conner scored on a wild pitch, then Micah Simpson lined for a double to score Davidson, and Carson Wallace would drive in Simpson.
Asheville is 9-3 with just one out. Carson Wallace steals second and third. Hayes Hillier then walks, then steals second. Wallace steals home, and Hillier is caught stealing third. Grant Buchanan walks, and Regan Smith scores on a passed ball, putting the Cardinals of Post 70 up 11-3.
Post 70's #20 Caden Davidson batting - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
The top of the fifth sees Wilmington fail to score as they are set down 1,2,3. Asheville could close out the game on the run rule if they score two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kolt Nelson grounds out, Evan Conner singles to left field, then advances on a wild pitch, he scores when Caden Davidson singles, score is 12-3 before a double play ends the inning.
Wilmington stays alive for another inning. Post 10 again goes three up and three down. Asheville closes out the inning, also going three up and three down. Wilmington has one last chance to get back into this game. William Jones leads off with a walk. He advances to second on a sacrifice by Jake Jeffrey and then steals third. Evan Coartney strikes out, and TJ Ziermann grounds out to end the game.
Asheville Post 70 players watching the game - Day 3 - Legion Senior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 28th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Final score: Asheville scored 12 runs on seven hits and made no errors. Wilmington scored three runs on three hits and made four errors. Wilmington drops to the elimination bracket with their first loss, and Asheville remains undefeated.
There is an American Legion tournament rule that states pairings for games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents against each other, unless necessary. Tuesday's matchups should be tweaked to the 4 pm game matching Rowan County and Wilmington, and the 7 pm game will be Garner and Asheville in the nightcap. Please double-check on the Cherryville American Legion Baseball Tournaments Facebook page before heading to Fraley Field.
NC American Legion Senior Bracket Through Day 4
Post 100 - WNN
Two more days left with lots of competition and great baseball to play. You will not want to miss any of the action as the tournament races to a conclusion. Please be mindful that hot temperatures can produce pop-up thunderstorms, so keep in mind that game times can be subject to change in the case of a weather event.
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