BLADENBORO – Sophomore Hunter Hester pitched a complete game 4-hitter and struck out 9 batters Monday night to lead West Bladen to an 8-3 non-conference baseball victory over East Bladen.
Hunter Hester allowed 3 runs – only 1 earned – and walked 1 batter. It was the first win of the year for Coach Wade Pait’s Knights, now 1-2, who will entertain North Brunswick Wednesday night. East Bladen, now 1-3, will host South Columbus Tuesday night in their Waccamaw Conference opener.
The Eagles jumped in front 2-0 in the 2nd inning. Davion Lewis reached on a 1-out error and raced to 3rd base on D. A. Smith’s infield hit. Freshman Jayce Hatcher’s fielder’s choice plated Lewis. Smith stole 3rd base and darted home on Cole Butler’s single to shortstop.
The Knights tied the game in the 3rd inning. Junior Garrett Dunham drew a 1-out walk, advanced on a passed ball and a fielder’s choice and dashed home when junior Cade Allen drilled a single to centerfield. Senior Jordan Hester reached on an error, and Hunter Hester knocked in Allen with a single to centerfield.
West Bladen took the lead with 4 runs in the 4th inning. Junior Mason Jones belted a 1-out single to center then advanced on a pair of wild pitches, while Dunham walked. Junior Brady Durden was hit by a pitch, before Allen raked a single to left that plated Jones and Dunham. Jordan Hester walked, and Hunter Hester was hit by a pitch to force home Brady Durden. Freshman Ashton Davis’ fielder’s choice scored Allen for a 6-2 Knight lead.
East Bladen answered with a run in the 6th inning. Senior Jake Futrell was hit by a pitch, and Parker Greene yanked a single to left. Lewis singled off the pitcher to load the bases, before Smith’s fielder’s choice plated Aiden Hargrove, the pinch-runner for Futrell, and trimmed the margin to 6-3.
The Knights tacked on 2 runs in the home 6th. Jordan Hester walked, and Davis’ liner to left resulted in a 2-base error. Junior Allister Russ smacked a single to right that plated Jordan Hester and Davis and stretched the West lead to 8-3.
Allen batted 2-for-4 with 3 runs batted in and 2 runs scored to lead the West hitters. Hunter Hester, Jones and Allister Russ added 1 hit each. Hunter Hester and Allister Russ had 2 RBIs each. Davis had an RBI. Dunham scored twice, and Brady Durden, Jordan Hester, Davis and Jones scored 1 run each.
Lewis, Greene, Smith and Butler had 1 hit each for the Eagles. Smith, Hatcher and Butler drove in runs, and Smith, Lewis and Hargrove scored runs.
Hatcher pitched 2 scoreless, hitless innings, walked 2 and struck out 2 for East Bladen. Na’Toren Corbett worked 1.1 innings of relief and allowed 4 runs – 2 earned – on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 1. Carson Gooden gave up 2 runs on a hit and a walk. Lewis finished up with 2.2 innings of relief allowing 2 unearned runs on a hit and 2 walks while striking out 6.
East Bladen 020 001 0 – 3-4-2
West Bladen 002 402 x – 8-5-1
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