03/28/2024
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CLINTON -Senior Hunter Elks drove in 4 runs, and sophomore Cade Allen scored 3 runs as West Bladen raced to leads of 7-1 and 12-3 enroute to a 13-6 victory over Clinton Tuesday night in their Southeastern Athletic Conference baseball opener.

Senior Oscar Rodriquez-Marin doubled home a Dark Horse run in the 1st inning. However, Allen raked a single to left, and senior Hunter Smith scorched a single to right in the West 2nd inning.

After junior Jordan Hester walked, Elks and freshman Joshua Dawson grounded into fielder’s choices that plated Allen and Smith. Senior Kaiden Revels slammed a double to left that scored Dawson for a 3-1 Knight lead.

Dunham pounded a double to center field in the 3rd inning, and Allen smashed a single to left that scored Dunham. Hester walked, and Elks walloped a triple to right field that scored Allen and Hester. An error on the play allowed Elks to race home and stretch the lead to 7-1.

Junior Dawson Smith doubled and scored in the Clinton half of the inning, and an error, a hit batter and a passed ball plated another run and trimmed the margin to 7-3.

Senior Bryce Fuller clobbered a solo home run over the center field fence to start the Knight 6th inning. Dunham reached on an error, Allen swatted a single to center field, and Hunter Smith was hit by a pitch. An error on Hester’s grounder scored Dunham.

Elks’ fielder’s choice scored Allen, and Smith scooted home on a passed ball. Revels spanked a single to right that scored Elks and opened up a 12-3 lead.

Dawson Smith drove in a run with a double in the Clinton 6th, and Rodriguez-Marin pounded a 2-run double to trim the margin to 12-6.

Fuller drew a lead-off walk in the West 7th inning. Dunham delivered a single, and Fuller stole 3rd base then darted home on Hunter Smith’s sacrifice fly.

Allen batted 3-for-5 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Revels finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and 2 RBIs. Fuller slugged the home run and was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Dunham was also 2-for-4 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Elks tripled, scored twice and had the 4 RBIs. Dawson and Hunter Smith had 1 hit each. Hester and Dawson scored runs, and Hunter Smith, Dawson and Hester had 1 RBI each.

Senior Garrison Carr pitched the first 2 innings and allowed 3 runs- 1 earned – on 2 hits and 3 walks. Sophomore Brady Durden worked 3 scoreless, hitless innings of relief, struck out 8 and walked 2. Dunham pitched the final 2 innings and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk while striking out two.

Dawson Smith batted 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, 3 runs scored and 1 RBI to lead Clinton. Rodriguez-Marin was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and a run scored. Junior Connor Tyner, the first of 4 Dark Horse pitchers, took the loss.

Coach Wade Pait’s Knights improved to 6-1 and will host Clinton at ‘The Castle’ Friday night.

West Bladen  034 005 1 — 13-12-2
Clinton            102 003 0 —   6- 6- 5

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