03/28/2024
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East Bladen High SchoolELIZABETHTOWN – Winning pitcher Sincere Smith’s 2-run triple hightlighted a 9-run fourth inning that propelled East Bladen to a 14-6 Four County Conference baseball victory over Heide Trask Tuesday night.

The Eagles jumped on top with 2 runs in the first inning. Smith drew a walk, stole second and raced to third base on a wild pitch. Senior Kyle Tatum laced a single to right-centerfield that scored Smith. Sophmore Dan Tatum, the courtesy runner for Kyle Tatum, scored on an error.

The Titans scored a single run in the second and added 2 runs each in the third and fourth innings to take a 5-2 lead. Three of those runs were unearned.

Sophmore Greyson Heustess was hit by a pitch, and junior Deondre Newkirk beat out a bunt single to start the fourth. Sophmore Shy Pone walked, and Heustess darted home on an errant pick-off throw. Smith crushed a triple to deep centerfield that scored Newkirk and Pone.

After Kyle Tatum walked, junior Xavier Wooten ripped a single to centerfield that plated Smith. Junior Ty Watkins raked a single through the right side that scored Dan Tatum, the courtesy runner for Kyle Tatum.

Brooks McGill lashed a single to centerfield that scooted under the fielder and scored Wooten, Watkins and McGill. Heustess reached base on an error, and Newkirk dropped down another bunt single. An error on Kyle Tatum’s grounder scored Heustess and put the Eagles ahead 11-5.

McGill beat out an infield hit in the fifth inning and dashed home when Heustess smashed a triple into the rightfield corner.

The Titans scored in the top of the sixth to pull within 12-6, but the Eagles tacked on 2 runs in the bottom half. Smith and Wooten were hit by pitches, and Kyle Tatum walked. Senior Nick Collins’ fielder’s choice drove in Smith, and Dan Tatum who was running for Kyle scooted home from second base on the play for a 14-6 lead.

Heustess batted 2-3 with a triple, 2 runs scored and a run batted in. McGill finished 2-4 at the plate with 2 runs scored and an rbi. Newkirk was 2-4 with a run scored. Smith slammed the 2-run triple and scored 3 runs.

Kyle Tatum, Wooten and Watkins all cracked run-scoring singles. Dan Tatum scored 3 runs as the courtesy runner for his brother Kyle. Collins drove in a run, and Pone scored a run.

Smith scattered ten hits, walked 3 and hit a batter while striking out 5 in his 6 innings on the mound. Wooten worked a 1-2-3 seventh to end the game.

“Sincere pitched a good ball game,” said Eagle Coach Russell Priest. “He’s a competitor. We hit the ball well, and the defense played well.”

East Bladen improved to 2-1 in league play and 3-3 overall. The Eagles travel to Wallace-Rose Hill Thursday night for a 7:00 game.

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