Miscues in the field, too many runners left on base, and a Cayce Post 130 team that came out swinging led to Richland Post 6’s first loss of the American Legion baseball season. The contest was played Monday, June 20, at Heathwood Hall. The final was a 9–6 triumph for Cayce who improved to 3–4 on the year while Coach Ray Derrick’s squad slipped to 6–1.

“We just didn’t get the hits with men on base, and I probably should have changed pitchers earlier in the game,” said Derrick noting that Post 6 had plenty of opportunities since winning pitcher Austin Grimes allowed 16 hits. But the former Airport High School star, playing his final game before reporting to the US Military Academy at West Point, had enough control and hitting support for the win.

Chaz Ardis, Post 6’s starting and losing hurler fell behind in the first inning. Cayce’s T.J. Caulder reached first on a dropped fly to right and later scored on a bases loaded single from Alex Moody.

Matters worsened in the second inning when four runs were posted for Cayce 130 on four hits and an error. Down 5–0 in the third, Post 6 right fielder Chachare Freeman scored on a single by shortstop Robbie Wilcox.

Greater hope emerged as Chuck Cobb connected on the first of his two home runs driving in Spencer Derrick to close the margin to two. Cayce countered with four more runs in the fourth. The major thrust came when, with Brandon Stoudemire on first after being hit by a pitch, Nate Caldwell unleashed a two run homer.

At that point Mike Shaw was called in from the Post 6 bullpen and, for the second consecutive game, closed without giving up a run. Ardis finished the game playing third base.

Post 6 still showed life logging two more runs when Cobb hit his second two–run round–tripper driving in Derrick in the fifth. But, that was all the scoring.

“We have to do a better job of getting runs across. We had plenty of hits but left too many men on base, but I’m not looking at shuffling the lineup. We just have to play better,” said Derrick.

Post 6 was scheduled to play Irmo this past Wednesday and complete the week on Friday, June 24 at Dutch Fork High School facing Irmo/Columbia Post 174 at 7 pm. To begin next week, Richland Post 6 will play Cayce at Brookland-Cayce High Monday, June 27.

Richland Post 6 leaders (through June 20)

Hitters:

Will Lewis–.476

Robbie Wilcox–.450

Chachere Freeman–.444

Mike Shaw–.479

Chuck Cobb–.400

Chaz Ardis–.393

Spencer Derrick–.357

Mike Regan–.310

Todd Stoudenmire–.300

Pitching:

Chachare Freeman (2–0)–

l.29 ERA

Ben Halligan (2–0)–1.64 ERA

Mike Mubarak (1–0)– 0.00 ERA

Robbie Wilcox (1–0)–2.45 ERA