Post 10 picks up third straight win at legion baseball state tournament

Nobody can question the heart of Wilmington Post 10.

Relief pitcher Luke Vargo (Hoggard) threw 5 1/3 shutout innings to help Wilmington earn a 5-2 victory over Shelby Post 82 at the N.C. American Legion Baseball State Tournament. It was the third straight day the team won an elimination game.

Vargo, who was making his first appearance of the event, scattered four hits and recorded five strikeouts. Shelby (28-9) loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Vargo got Wyatt McSwain to strike out to end the game.

“Luke was amazing,” Wilmington coach Scott Sandlin said. “He came in and challenged guys and was a real bulldog for us. When he got to 30 pitches, we decided to just let him go because he was in such a groove. Even though we don’t have him for tomorrow, he was really good today.” 

Wilmington (22-6) will need to pick up two victories over Wayne County Post 11 on Wednesday in order to win its record 14th state title and advance to the Southeast Regional Tournament in Asheboro. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. with potential winner-take-all contest scheduled to begin an hour after the completion of the first game. 

“We are really connected team right now,” Sandlin said. “We’re pulling for each other, and that’s really good to see. These kids are amazing. I have no doubt they are going to give it all they’ve got tomorrow.”

Ryder Whitacre (Wilmington Christian Academy) got the start on the mound, but was removed after throwing 30 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. He will be available to pitch Wednesday. The only pitchers Wilmington won’t be able to use are Vargo and Tyler Jumper, who threw a complete game Monday. 

Shelby led 2-0 after three innings, but Wilmington tied the score in the top of the fourth. Vargo and Cam Mathews (Hoggard) hit back-to-back one-out singles. Patrick Boldt (South Brunswick) followed with a double to plate Vargo. Following a walk to Jake Jeffrey (Hoggard), Dylan Welch (Ashley) drove in Mathews with a ground out. 

Logan Ponnett (Hoggard) singled home Trey Pierce (Brunswick CC/Wilmington Christian Academy) in the fifth inning to give Wilmington its first lead. 

An inning later, Wilmington loaded the bases with no outs when Boldt walked, Jeffrey reached on an error and Welch singled. Camden Croom (New Hanover) drilled a base hit up the middle to bring home a pair of insurance runs. 

“That was a big at-bat that kind of broke the game open,” Sandlin said. “Production like that from the bottom of the order is really, really important.” 

Vargo and Mathews each finished 2-for-4. 

STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

All games at Buck Fraley Field in Cherryville

Saturday, July 20

Game 1: Area IV runner-up Union County 13, Area II champion Hamlet 6

Game 2: Area IV champion Shelby 9, Area II runner-up Wilmington 3

Game 3: Area I runner-up Wayne County 12, Area III champion High Point 2 (6 innings)

Sunday, July 21

Game 4: Area I champion Garner 5, Host Cherryville 1

Game 5: Hamlet 9, High Point 1 (High Point eliminated)

Game 6: Wilmington 4, Cherryville 1 (Cherryville eliminated)

Game 7: Wayne County 11, Union County 3

Monday, July 22

Game 8: Shelby 5, Garner 2

Game 9: Wilmington 8, Union County 4 (Union County eliminated)

Game 10: Garner 6, Hamlet 3 (Hamlet eliminated)

Game 11: Wayne County 8, Shelby 3

Tuesday, July 23

Game 12: Wilmington 5, Shelby 2 (Shelby eliminated)

Game 13: Wayne County 6, Garner 2 (Garner eliminated)

Wednesday, July 24 

Game 14: Wilmington vs. Wayne County (possible elimination game), 11 a.m.

Game 15 (if necessary): 3 p.m.