In the game played at Union Pines High School on Thursday, Vass held off a late Hope Mills rally for a 7-6 victory. It fell 2-1 at Laurinburg Post 50 on Saturday.
Weather permitting, Vass was scheduled to play Terry Sanford at home on Tuesday, and away on Thursday, in non-conference games to complete the regular season. Tonight's scheduled non-conference game against Aberdeen Post 72 was canceled so that the Diamond could make up a postponed league game at Jack Britt.
Vass got the jump on Hope Mills with a four-run second inning. Adam Harward and Chris Holt led off the frame with singles. After a walk to Yorke Sweat, Peyton Martin cleared the bases with a triple off the fence. Sam Buie then plated Martin with a double.
Leading 4-2 in the fifth, doubles by Harward, Cole Parris and Todd Collins helped the home team score three more runs.
John Gallimore, now 3-0 on the season, ran into trouble in the seventh as the visitors scored four times. Buie was called on to pitch and helped preserve the win. The leading hitter for Post 296 was Martin, 3-for-4 with a double, triple and four RBIs. Also contributing two hits apiece were Buie, with two doubles, Harward and Cody Howe.
Vass received a strong pitching performance from Todd Collins in the hard-fought game in Laurinburg. He went the distance, allowing five hits while walking two.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the sixth, John Lawhon brought home Steven Dinkins on a suicide squeeze bunt for the only Vass run. The leading hitters for the visitors were Parris, 2-for-4, Sweat 1-for-3 with a double and Dinkins 1-for-3.
Post 296 went into Tuesday's game with a 4-6 record overall. Big innings tied to errors have been a big factor in a number of the losses. Coach Carl Martin will learn soon whether his team has qualified for the junior legion playoffs. He feels that overall the team accomplished the most important goal of the coaches.
"I always tried to work on the fundamental things," he said Monday. "All of the players I've talked to say they've improved since the school season. That's what we were looking for. I think the kids have been having fun while they are learning."
