American Legion Baseball Roundup: July 2, 2025

Wilmington Post 10 Jr. Sharks 12, Tabor City Post 507 9

After getting off a sluggish start at the plate, the Jr. Sharks exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally and clinch the Area II regular season title.

Wilmington (16-4, 8-0) trailed 9-4 after Tabor City (4-8, 3-6) hit a pair of two-run homers in the top of the frame.

With their backs against the wall, the Jr. Sharks finally got things going offensively. Gibson Todd (Topsail) cleared the bases with a double to cut the deficit to 9-8. Preston Smith (Hoggard) followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the score.

With two outs, Fisher Goodwin (North Brunswick) hit a sharp ground ball into right field to bring home JB Brooks (Laney) from second base with what turned out to be the winning run. Harrison Mears (South Brunswick) tacked on two more insurance runs with a home run.

Patrick McIntosh (New Hanover) recorded the save by retiring three of the four batters he faced.

A double from Grady Sotriffer (South Brunswick) in the third inning got Wilmington on the board. An inning later, Mears doubled, stole third base, and scored on a wild pitch.

Brooks had a two-out RBI single and later scored on an error in the fifth inning.

Tabor City’s Layton McLean (Whiteville) connected on three home runs, but his soft lineout ended the game.

Wilmington Post 10 Blue 4, Beulaville Post 511 2

Colin Beddard (Ashley) turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, allowing one run on three hits in the final five innings, to lead Post 10 Blue to an impressive road win. 

Beddard struck out seven batters and issued only one walk. Of the 78 pitches he threw, 51 went for strikes. 

Wilmington (10-6, 5-4) scored three runs in the top of the first inning, all with two outs. Christian Atkinson (Hoggard) and Elijah Setzer (Ashley) hit back-to-back singles. An error on Setzer’s hit allowed Atkinson to score the first run. 

Brooks Keeler (Hoggard) followed with an RBI base hit of his own and later crossed the plate on another error. 

Consecutive doubles from Julian Guthrie (Hoggard) and Kyler Terry (Hoggard) in the sixth inning increased Post 10 Blue’s lead to 4-2.

Area II Standings

(Overall Record, Area II record)

Wilmington Post 10 Jr. Sharks (16-4, 8-0)

Beulaville Post 511 (8-6, 6-3)

Wilmington Post 10 Blue (10-6, 5-4)

Tabor City Post 507 (4-8, 3-6)

Jacksonville Post 265 (2-5, 2-5)

Castle Hayne Post 545 (1-9, 1-7)