03/29/2024
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First Game

LAKE WACCAMAW – East Bladen defeated East Columbus 15-5 Saturday in the completion of a Three Rivers Conference baseball game that was suspended by rain on March 20th with the Eagles leading 8-2 in the top of the fifth inning.

When play was resumed Saturday, the Gators tacked on 3 more runs on 2 hits in the fifth inning to pull to within 8-5.

Junior Dan Tatum blasted a home run over the leftfield fence to ignite a 3-run Eagle fifth. Senior Xavier Wooten and Pierce Melvin were both hit by pitches, and Gabe Barber reached base on an error as Wooten scored. Senior Ty Watkins belted a single that scored Melvin.

The Eagles closed out the game on the mercy rule with 4 runs in the sixth inning. Senior Sincere Smith walked, and Xavier Wooten knocked him in with a single. Melvin walked, and Watkins reached base on an error that scored Xavier Wooten.

Holden Clark was hit by pitch, and Shy Pone walked to force home Melvin. Tatum was hit by a pitch to force home Watkins with the game-ending run.

Melvin pitched a complete game 7-hitter and struck out 11 batters. The junior righthander had pitched 4-plus innings in March then finished up with 2 innings Saturday. He walked 4 and hit a batter.

Xavier Wooten batted 3-4 with 2 doubles, 3 runs batted in and 3 runs scored to lead the Eagle hitters. Watkins finished 3-5 at the plate with a double, 3 rbi’s and 2 runs scored. Tatum batted 2-3 with the home run, 2 rbi’s and 2 runs scored.

Clark and Barber belted rbi singles in the game. Melvin scored 4 runs, and Smith scored twice. Heustess, Pone and Spencer Scott scored runs, and Pone drove in a run.

Kenji Bowen’s 2-run single led the Gator attack.

Second Game

Senior Ty Watkins and freshman Freddie Wooten combined to pitch a 2-hitter and strike out ten batters as East Bladen defeated East Columbus 7-4 in the second game of Saturday’s Three Rivers Conference doubleheader.

Watkins pitched the first 5 innings and allowed 2 unearned runs on 2 hits, 3 walks and 3 hit batters while striking out seven. Freddie Wooten relieved and worked the final 2 innings striking out 3 and giving up 2 unearned runs on no hits, 2 walks and a hit batter.

Senior Sincere Smith led off the first inning with a single and raced home when senior Xavier Wooten cracked a single.

The Gators answered with 2 runs in the home first on an error, a run-scoring single by Garrett Jacobs and a double by Dylan Patrick.

The Eagles went ahead 4-2 with 3 runs in the third. Freshman Zach Meares walked, and Freddie Wooten was hit by a pitch. Smith slammed a double that scored Meares, and junior Greyson Heustess’ sacrifice fly plated Freddie Wooten. Xavier Wooten’s sacrifice fly scored Smith.

Meares was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, and Smith walked. Heustess hammered a double that scored Meares and Smith and stretched the lead to 6-2.

Gabe Barber pounded a double to start the Eagle fifth inning and scored on Watkins’ sacrifice fly to push the lead to 7-2.

The Gators scored a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning on 2 walks, a hit batter and an error to close the gap to 7-4. Freddie Wooten set down the Gators in order in the seventh inning with 2 strike-outs.

Smith batted 3-3 with a double, a run batted in and 3 runs scored to lead the Eagle hitters. Barber finished 2-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Heustess doubled home 2 runs.

Xavier Wooten, Pone and Freddie Wooten added one hit each to the Eagle attack. Xavier Wooten had 2 rbi’s, and Watkins had one rbi. Meares scored 2 runs, and Freddie Wooten scored one.

Coach Russell Priest’s Eagles improved to 8-7 in conference play and 9-9 overall. East Bladen will host St. Pauls Monday night.

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