WHITEVILLE – Bladenboro’s Bulldogs withstood a late Williams rally and clinched the Waccamaw Middle School Conference’s ‘A’ League baseball championship Monday with an 8-5 victory over the 2nd place Aggies.
Coach Tim Benton’s Bulldogs improved to 6-0 in league play and hold a 2-game lead over Williams with 2 games remaining. Bladenboro has defeated Williams in both of their head-to-head meetings.
Jonah Bryan walked to lead off the game, stole 2nd base, and Hunter Hester knocked him in with a single to center field. Williams used a walk and an error to tie the score 1-1 in the Aggie first.
Luke Bryant was hit by a pitch to start the Bulldog 2nd inning, stole 2nd base and advanced on a wild pitch. Jonah Bryan reached on an error that scored Bryant. Gavin Elks ripped a single to left that plated Bryan, and Elks stole 2 bases and darted home on a passed ball that stretched the Bladenboro lead to 4-1.
Jonah Bryan smacked a single to center field in the Bladenboro 4th inning. Elks walked, and Jonah Bryan reached 3rd base on a wild pitch. Hester smashed a single to left that scored both Jonah Bryan and Elks. Catcher Weston Hilburn walloped a double off the fence that scored Hester and padded the lead to 7-1.
Hester clobbered a home run over the center field fence leading off the 6th inning that pushed the Bladenboro lead to 8-1.
The Aggies used 5 walks and a hit batter to score 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and trim the lead to 8-5. Bladenboro starting pitcher Ashton Davis was relieved by Elks who walked the 1st batter he faced then struck out the next one to end the game.
Davis worked 5.2 innings on the mound and allowed 5 runs – 4 earned – on 2 hits and 6 walks while striking out 9 batters to pick up the win. Elks was credited with a save for striking out the final batter with the bases loaded.
Hester slugged the home run and batted 3-for-4 with 4 runs batted in and 2 runs scored. Teammate Chase Bryan also turned in a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Hilburn slammed the run-scoring double. Jonah Bryan singled, scored 3 runs and drove in a run, and Elks singled, scored twice and drove in a run. Bryant scored a run.
Bladenboro will host Nakina Wednesday in the Bulldogs final home game.
Bladenboro 130 301 – 8- 9-2
Williams 100 004 – 5 -2-6
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