03/28/2024
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By Sonny Jones

ELIZABETHTOWN — Zamar Lewis drove home five runs and Evan Pait struck out 10 batters as East Bladen snapped its five-game losing streak with an 11-1 victory against Clinton in a Southeastern Athletic Conference baseball game at Russell Priest Field.

Lewis, a senior, drove in a run with a double in the first inning, another run with a single in the second, a pair of runs with a booming triple in the fourth and ended the game with a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. The game was halted by the 10-run rule.

Pait, also a senior, pitched four scoreless innings, backed by a solid, errorless defensive showing from his teammates, before giving up a run in the top of the fifth. He allowed only three hits and walked three while striking out the side in the second and third innings.

The win was the first for East Bladen (3-6, 1-2 Southeastern) since a 13-3 win at South Columbus on March 3 and its first in league play after dropping a pair of games last week against Midway.

Clinton (4-4, 1-2 Southeastern) scored its lone run in its final at-bat when Drake Smith tripled to deep right field and scored on a wild pitch.

East Bladen erupted for four runs in the first inning. Pait drew a one-out walk and Ty Mathis was hit by a pitch. Lewis ripped a double to center that scored courtesy running Darious Williamson. Jake Futrell followed with a single that plated Mathis and Lewis. Futrell moved to third on Garrison Tatum’s double and scored on Parker Green’s ground out.

The Eagles took advantage of four Clinton errors in the second inning to score three times for a 7-0 lead.

In the fourth, Lewis’ booming triple scored Williamson, who was running for Pait, and Ty Mathis. Futrell followed with a single that scored Lewis for a 10-0 East Bladen lead.

After Clinton kept the game going with a run in the top of the fifth, East Bladen’s Coleman Tatum and Pait were each hit by a pitch. Mathis and Lewis walked to end the game.

Lewis was 3-for-3 with two runs scored to go along with his five runs batted in. Futrell was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Mathis scored three runs and Williamson scored twice.

Jaxson Smith took the loss for Clinton. He pitched two innings and allowed seven runs – four earned – on four hits and a walk and struck out three.

The teams are scheduled to play Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Clinton.

Clinton          000 01 — 1-3-4
East Bladen 430 31 — 11-6-0

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