BLADENBORO – Junior Brycen Blackmon walloped a 3-run triple in the 6th inning as West Bladen held on for a 17-14 non-conference baseball victory over West Columbus Tuesday night.
The Knights had built a 12-5 lead after 4 innings, but the Vikings rallied with 3 runs in the 5th inning. Senior Ethan Hinson singled and scored on a wild pitch, and senior Justin Connor belted a 2-run single that closed the gap to 12-8.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Two walks and 2 errors plated 2 runs to start the Vikings 5-run, 6th inning. Senior Sam West slammed a 2-run double, and junior Troy Green knocked in West with a single to put West Columbus ahead 13-12.
Junior Elijah Crabtree drew a lead-off walk in the Knight 6th inning. Junior Devon Strange beat out a bunt single, and junior Alex Brisson reached base on an error as Bryce Fuller, the pinch-runner for Crabtree, scored.
Sophomore Hunter Smith and junior Bryley Williams drew walks to force home Devon Strange with the go-ahead run, before Blackmon drilled his triple to deep centerfield that scored Brisson, Smith and Williams and stretched the Knight lead to 17-13.
Knight junior Kaiden Stanley struck out the lead-off batter in the WC 7th inning, but Ethan Hilbourn singled and the next 2 batters walked. Williams relieved and issued a walk that forced home Hilbourn but then struck out the next 2 batters to earn the save.
Winning pitcher Stanley pitched 1.1 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 walks and 3 hits while striking out 3. Sophomore Michael Young started on the hill for the Knights and gave up 5 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out one. Junior Josh Russ relieved and worked 3 innings allowing 7 runs – 3 earned – on 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 2.
Hinson, the 4th of 5 Viking pitchers, took the loss. Evan Ward, Connor, and Hilbourn preceded Hinson to the mound.
Smith batted 2-for-3 with 2 runs batted in and a run scored for the Knights. Blackmon finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Strange batted 2-for-4 with 3 runs scored. Sophomore Hunter Elks doubled and had 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
Brisson doubled and had 3 RBIs and a run scored. Williams, Fuller and junior Alex Strange scored 2 runs each. Crabtree and Young scored one run each. Williams and Russ drove in runs.
West Columbus grabbed a 1-0 lead on a pair of 1st inning errors. The Knights rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the 2nd inning. Fuller walked, and Devon Strange lined a single to right. Brisson smashed a double to left that scored Fuller and Devon Strange.
Two walks and singles by Hilbourn, L. B. Allen, Ethan Brown and Troy Green produced 4 runs in the Viking 3rd inning and vaulted the visitors in front 5-2.
Williams and Young reached base on errors to begin the Knight 3rd inning. Blackmon cracked a single to load the bases. Russ walked to force home Williams, and Elks hammered a double to right that scored Young, Blackmon and Alex Strange, the courtesy runner for Russ. Elks darted home on a wild pitch for a 7-5 West Bladen lead.
The Knights tacked on 5 more runs in the 4th inning. Blackmon and Russ drew walks, and Elks reached base on an error. Blackmon scored on an error, and Alex Strange, the courtesy runner for Russ, dashed home on a passed ball.
Crabtree walked, then stole 2nd base on the front end of a double steal as Elks stole home. Devon Strange was hit by a pitch, and Smith knocked in Crabtree and Devon Strange with a single to centerfield to boost the Knight lead to 12-5.
Hilbourn batted 2-for-3 with an RBI and 3 runs scored to lead the Viking hitters. Green was 2-4 with 2 RBIs. West doubled home 2 runs and scored 2. Allen singled and scored 3 runs. Connor drove in 2 runs with a single.
Coach John Ammons’ Knights claimed their 1st win of the season and will take a 1-2 record to Red Springs Wednesday night.
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