TABOR CITY – West Bladen scored in every inning and built leads of 12-1 and 15-4 en route to a 17-8 non-conference baseball victory over South Columbus Thursday night.
The Knights jumped to a quick 2-0 lead as junior Hunter Smith led off with a walk, and senior Devon Strange was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a balk, and Smith dashed home on a wild pitch. Senior Brycen Blackmon drove in Devon Strange with a single.
West Bladen tacked on a run in the 2nd inning. Junior Hunter Elks walked, and junior Kaden Revels reached base on an error. Devon Strange launched a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Elks for a 3-0 lead.
A hit batter, a wild pitch and a passed ball produced a Stallion run in the home half of the second.
Blackmon reached base on an error to begin the Knight 3rd inning and raced home when senior Alex Brisson reached base on an error. Senior Josh Russ walloped a home run over the left field fence that stretched the lead to 6-1.
Smith and Devon Strange drew walks to start the West 4th inning. Both runners stole a base, and Smith sprinted home on an error. Senior Bryley Williams’ fielder’s choice brought home Strange. Blackmon reached base on a passed 3rd strike. Brisson slapped a single, Russ walked and Blackmon scooted home on a wild pitch for a 9-1 lead.
Smith walked again to start the 5th inning and galloped home when junior Aaron Wren slammed a double to left. Sophomore Jahmar Richardson was hit by a pitch, and Brisson laced a single to center that scored Wren. Richardson scampered home on a passed ball for a 12-1 lead.
Three errors, a walk and freshman Rush Blackwell’s single produced a trio of runs for the Stallions in the home half of the 5th and trimmed the margin to 12-4.
Revels reached base on an error, Smith walked and Devon Strange was hit by a pitch to load the bases in the Knight 6th. Revels scored on a passed ball, and Williams reached on an error that plated Smith. Junior Bryce Fuller raked a single to left that scored Devon Strange for a 15-4 lead.
Two walks, 3 hits and an error resulted in 4 runs for the Stallions in the home sixth that sliced the West lead to 15-8. John Harvey Gore, Ethan Cullipher and Dalton Thompson had hits in the inning for South.
Revels pounded a double to center field in the Knight 7th inning. Devon Strange reached base on an error that scored Revels, and Williams blasted a triple to center field that scored Strange and boosted the lead to 17-8.
Russ started on the mound for the Knights and pitched 5.2 innings to pick up the win giving up 8 runs – 3 earned – on 5 hits and 5 walks while striking out 9 batters. Williams relieved and worked the final 1.1 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits and striking out one.
Brisson batted 2-for-3 with 2 runs batted in and a run scored. Russ slugged the 2-run homer. Williams tripled and had 3 RBIs. Revels doubled and scored twice. Wren doubled home a run and scored a run. Blackmon and Fuller had 1 hit each. Devon Strange, Blackmon and Fuller had 1 RBI each. Smith and Devon Strange scored 4 runs each. Blackmon scored twice, and Richardson and Elks scored runs.
Jared Caines, the 1st of 3 Stallion pitchers, was charged with the loss. Cullipher batted 2-for-4 with an RBI. Gore was 2-for-4 at the plate, and Blackwell singled and scored twice. Gavin McRae scored 2 runs.
Coach John Ammons’ Knights improved to 3-2 with the victory and will visit East Bladen Tuesday night to open Southeastern Athletic Conference play.
West Bladen 213 333 2 -17-8-4
South Columbus 010 034 0 – 8-7-7
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