American Legion Baseball Roundup: June 23, 2024

June 23, 2024, 10:06 pm | by Tim Hower

Wilmington Post 10 11, Tabor City Post 507 1 (6 innings)

***Click here to view a gallery of 35 photos from the action***

For the second night in a row, Toby Southerland (New Hanover) had a four-hit performance in a mercy-rule victory.

Southerland finished 4-for-4 with a double, triple, two RBI and two runs scored.

“I started this summer a little colder than I wanted to, so I’ve been working at it and now I’m back where I was during the high school season,” said Southerland, who is 8-for-9 with five RBI and four runs scored over his past two games. ”

The left fielder put Wilmington (11-3, 4-1 Area II South) in front for good in the bottom of the third inning by lacing a one-out triple that allowed Cameron Rickabaugh (Wake Tech/Topsail) to cross the plate.

“I was able to stay inside a changeup during my first at-bat and hit it into center field,” Southerland said. “The triple came on a fastball, which I was sitting on.”

Cam Mathews (Hoggard) led off the fourth inning with a base hit to left field. He later scored on a wild pitch to double the advantage.

Tabor City (5-3, 4-2) scored its lone run on a two-out RBI double from Luke Odham (Whiteville) in the top of the fifth, but Wilmington responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame.

Logan Ponnett (Hoggard) doubled home Rickabaugh. Two batters later, Mathews also hit a double to score both Southerland and Ponnett.

Mathews was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Ponnett crossed the plate twice.

Wilmington ended the game early with a five-run sixth inning. Luke Vargo (Hoggard) cleared the bases with a double before scoring the winning run on a sac fly from Mathews.

Starting pitcher Camden Croom (New Hanover) scattered two hits and struck out six batters without issuing a walk in four scoreless innings to earn the win.

Aiden McBride (Hoggard) recorded the final four outs, including a pair via strikeout.

With the victory, Wilmington took over sole possession of first place in the Area II South Division with three games remaining.

They have road contests against Port City (Monday) and Hampstead (Friday) sandwiched between Wednesday’s home game vs. Carteret, which will be played at Wilmington Christian Academy at 5 p.m.