By John Clark
CERRO GORDO – Senior Garrison Carr pitched a 2-hit shutout and struck out 8 batters to lead West Bladen to a 13-0 non-conference baseball victory over West Columbus on a very foggy Friday night.
The fog was the story over the final 2 innings as it became difficult to see the outfielders or even infielders on the other side of the field. The umpires stopped play during the top of the 5th inning and let the field clear up a bit before finishing the game.
Before the fog hit the Knights jumped in front 4-0 in the 1st inning. Walks to sophomores Hezekiah Adams and Garrett Dunham and senior Hunter Smith loaded the bases. Sophomore Cade Allen raked a grounder to short, but the throw to the plate skipped away and scored Adams and Dunham.
Senior Hunter Elks’ fielder’s choice plated Smith, and junior Andre Moore drilled a single to centerfield that scored Allen.
Senior Bryce Fuller drew a 2-out walk in the 2nd inning, and Dunham yanked a single down the leftfield line. Smith and Allen drew walks that forced home Fuller and padded the lead to 5-0.
Fuller walked, and Dunham walloped a double to left-center field in the Knight 4th inning. Allen knocked in Fuller and Dunham with a single to left field that grew the lead to 7-0.
Freshman Joshua Dawson and senior Kaden Revels drew walks in the Knight 5th inning, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Adams pulled a grounder to 1st base, but an error on the throw to the plate scored sophomore Mason Jones, the courtesy runner for Dawson.
After Fuller walked, Dunham lined a single to left that plated Revels and Adams. The runners advanced on a passed ball, before Smith laced a single to right that scored Fuller and Dunham. Play was stopped at that point due to fog. When it resumed Allen swatted a single to right, and junior Jordan Hester poled a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Smith.
Dunham batted 3-for-3 with 2 runs batted in and 3 runs scored to lead the Knight hitters. Allen finished 2-for-3 at the plate with 4 RBIs and a run scored. Smith and Moore added 1 hit each. Smith had 2 RBIs, and Adams, Elks, Moore and Hester had 1 RBI each. Fuller scored 3 runs, and Adams and Smith scored 2 runs each. Revels and Jones also scored runs.
Triston Freeman doubled, and Frank Deleon singled for the Viking hits. Evan Ward pitched the 1st 4 innings for WC and gave up 7 runs – 3 earned – on 4 hits and 7 walks while striking out 7. Skylar McNair worked 0.1 inning and allowed 4 runs, 3 earned on 3 walks. Bryan Stewart pitched the final 0.2 innings and gave up 2 runs – 1 earned – on 3 hits and a walk.
Coach Wade Pait’s Knights improved to 4-1 and are slated to host Union Monday at 6 p.m.
West Bladen 410 26 — 13-7-3
West Columbus 000 00 — 0- 2-3
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