WHITEVILLE – Nyquan Richardson’s run-scoring double keyed a 2-run ninth inning that carried Clarkton School of Discovery to a 6-4 Waccamaw Middle School Conference baseball victory over Williams Township Thursday.
Ja’Nathan Johnson led off the ninth with a single to centerfield. Johnson stole second base and dashed home with the go-ahead run when Richardson blasted a double to centerfield. A pair of Aggie errors allowed Richardson to score an insurance run.
The Blue Devils had taken the early lead with a first-inning run. Richardson walked, advanced on a passed ball and a fielder’s choice and scored when Tragen McCullum lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Williams tied the score in the fourth inning on a walk, a hit batter and an error. A walk a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice helped the Aggies take a 2-1 lead in the fifth.
Garrett Dunham ripped a single to leftfield, and Lee Barnes smacked a single to centerfield in the Blue Devil sixth inning. Parker Greene knocked in Dunham and Barnes with a single to left that vaulted Clarkton in front 3-2.
J’von Junious smacked a single to centerfield in the Blue Devil seventh, and Maison Brooks hammered a triple to rightfield that scored Junious and padded the CSD lead to 4-2.
Three consecutive hit batsman, a single and a walk in the Williams seventh inning produced two runs and tied the score 4-4.
Dunham batted a perfect 3-3 and scored a run to lead the Clarkton hitters. Brooks tripled home a run, and Richardson doubled home a run and scored twice. Barnes, Greene, Junious and Johnson added one hit each. Greene drove in 2 runs, and McCullum had a run batted in. Barnes, Junious and Johnson scored one run each.
Jake Futrell pitched the first 4 innings for Clarkton and allowed 2 runs – one earned – on a hit and 4 walks while striking out six. Barnes picked up the win with 5 innings of relief allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, 3 hit batters and a walk while striking out two.
Coach Robert Mazur’s Blue Devils will play Tar Heel in the Bladen County Middle School Baseball Tournament that is scheduled for after the Easter Break.