RED SPRINGS – Sophomore Hunter Hester pitched a 5-hitter and struck out 11 batters to lead West Bladen to a 6-2 Southeastern Athletic Conference baseball victory over Red Springs Tuesday night.
Coach Wade Pait’s Knights improved to 6-3 in SAC play and 10-10 overall. West Bladen can clinch the No. 2 playoff spot from the SAC with either a win over Red Springs Friday night or a Fairmont win at Clinton. Red Springs is now 2-7 in league play and 8-13 overall.
Knight junior Garrett Dunham scorched a single through the left side to start the game. Dunham advanced on freshman Ashton Davis’ sacrifice bunt and junior Cade Allen’s fielder’s choice before scoring when Hunter Hester lined a single to center. Hunter Hester circled the bases on a passed ball, a wild pitch and a throwing error to push the lead to 2-0.
Singles by freshman Xzavier Sinclair, senior Tim Hammonds and junior Keithan Clark produced a Red Devil run in the bottom of the inning.
Hunter Hester and Sinclair both pitched a trio of scoreless innings, before the Knights tacked on a pair of runs in the 5th. Allen cracked a 2-out single, and Hunter Hester hammered a double to left that scored Allen. Hester kept running on the play and came around to score on the throw in.
Junior Allister Russ drilled a double to center field and raced home when the ball eluded the fielder to pad the lead to 5-1.
Allen walked then stole a base to start the Knight 7th inning. Allen sprinted to 3rd on a passed ball then scored as senior Will Durden reached base on an error that stretched the lead to 6-1.
Freshman Terry Locklear walked in the Red Devil 7th inning and scored when sophomore Zaydon Cummings smashed a double.
Allister Russ batted 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored to lead the Knight hitters. Hunter Hester finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, 3 runs batted in and 2 runs scored. Dunham, Davis, Allen, and senior Jordan Hester contributed 1 hit each. Allen scored 2 runs, and Dunham scored a run.
Sinclair pitched 6 innings and allowed 5 runs – 3 earned – on 8 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Scottie Locklear worked an inning of relief and allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk.
Sinclair batted 2-for-3 with a run scored. Cummings doubled home a run. Tim Hammonds and Clark added 1 hit each. Clark had an RBI.
West Bladen 200 021 0 — 6-9-1
Red Springs 100 000 1 — 2-5-4
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