After long break, Post 45 set for Southeast Regional

Randolph County Post 45’s Caleb Stickle passes manager Ronnie Pugh while on a home run trot during a game in June at McCrary Park. (Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – The first part of the American Legion baseball season was too short for Randolph County Post 45.

There’s still a chance for Post 45 to make it a long season.

The team’s month-long layoff will end next week in the Southeast Regional at McCrary Park. As host, Post 45 has an automatic spot in the eight-team, double-elimination bracket.

“We’ve had some times when we had a week to 10 days off, but nothing like this,” Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh said. “It’s just a combination of things that contributed to it, our play included.”

Post 45 will open the Southeast Regional on Wednesday night against the Virginia state champion Chesapeake Post 280.

The regional is scheduled to end Aug. 11, with the winner advancing the American Legion World Series in Shelby.

Randolph County failed to make the Area 3 playoffs that came before the state playoffs. So that’s the reason for the huge gap between games.

Post 45 (11-12) took time off, though many players worked out on their own.

“We’re back to practicing,” Pugh said last week. “The guys have been there, getting some good work in.”

There should be a 17-player roster for Post 45.

Pugh said the roster, which sometimes fluctuated during the season, likely will have all the primary players.

Randolph County has won regionals three times out of 10 years as a host.

“Try to get to the weekend,” Pugh said. “If you do that and have any pitching left, you’ve got a chance.”

Post 45 won its regular-season finale July 2, topping visiting High Point Post 87 by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 9-8 result.

Clay Hill and Trey Kennedy both drove in two runs and Grat Dalton and Caden Lasley each scored two runs, while Drew Harmon was the winning pitcher in relief.

It was Randolph County’s second victory in three meetings with High Point, which was the Area 3 North Division champion.

Post 45 tied with Davidson County Post 8 for second place in the division, but Post 8 got the Area 3 playoff spot based on winning two of three matchups with Randolph County.

High Point went on to win the Area 3 championship. Post 87 was eliminated in two games of the double-eliminate state tournament, which was won by Wayne County Post 11.

In the meantime, Post 45 has been in a waiting mode.

“I think they’re ready to go,” Pugh said of the players. “Of course, work ethic hasn’t been a problem.”

About the field

A team from Puerto Rico will be in the Asheboro regional for the first time.

Post 45’s tournament opener comes in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.

Earlier games pit Jacksonville (Fla.) Post 316 vs. Troy (Ala.) Post 70 at 9:30 a.m., Georgia vs. South Carolina at 12:30 p.m., and Wayne County vs. Puerto Rico at 4:30 p.m.

Entries from Kentucky and Tennessee aren’t part of the Southeast Regional this year.

Post 45’s second game will come against either Georgia or South Carolina.

The regional is slated later on the calendar than in the past. Last year, the regional ended Aug. 6.

So that could impact player availability, particularly for visiting teams. Fall sports practices have started and it’s close to time for the beginning of college classes.

“Will teams show up short?” Pugh asked. “I think it’s going to affect every team.”

Post 45 has the benefit of being the host. Pugh said third baseman Tate Andrews, a rising junior and a football player at Randleman, might be the team’s lone player with a potential conflict.

Randolph County went 2-2 in each of the past two years in the Southeast Regional.

“We’ve gone pretty deep in the past,” Pugh said. “Most of the time, we’ve played at least through Saturday.”