By John Clark
BLADENBORO – It was a case of missed opportunities for West Bladen Friday night as the Knights stranded 13 baserunners and had 3 more runners thrown out on the bases. The result was an 8-6 non-conference defeat to West Columbus.
West Bladen left the bases-loaded in the 2nd and 7th innings and left 2 runners in scoring position in the 4th and 6th innings.
Bryan Stewart’s 2-run single, an RBI triple by Triston Freeman and Evan Thompson’s RBI single staked the Vikings to an early 4-0 lead. Brennan Little also belted a double in the inning.
The Knights answered in the home first. Sophomore Hezekiah Adams walked, raced to 3rd base on an infield out and darted home on a wild pitch. Sophomore Garrett Dunham was hit by a pitch, advanced on a pair of wild pitches and scored when sophomore Cade Allen raked a single to left field.
The Vikings padded their lead to 6-2 in the 2nd inning on 2 walks and Frank Deleon’s 2-run single.
Junior Andre Moore drew a walk in the home 2nd and dashed home when Adams hammered a double to left-center field. Adams stole 3rd base and scored when senior Bryce Fuller yanked a single to left to trim the margin to 6-4.
West Bladen collected 2 hits in the 3rd inning, but a runner was thrown out on an attempted steal of 3rd base to end the inning.
Dunham swatted a single to left in the 4th inning and scooted around to 3rd base when senior Hunter Smith scorched a single to right. Allen’s fielder’s choice plated Dunham to close the gap to 6-5. After senior Hunter Elks was hit by a pitch, a pop-up to right was misplayed in the wind, but the Vikings forced the runner at 2nd base to end the inning and keep Smith’s run from counting.
The Vikings tacked on a pair of unearned insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a hit batter, a walk, 2 wild pitches, a passed ball and a throwing error.
West Bladen battled back in the home half of the inning. Senior Aaron Wren was hit by a pitch, and Moore’s fly ball to right was misplayed in the wind. One out later, a pick-off play retired another runner. Fuller walked, and Dunham ripped a single to left that scored Moore. Smith walked, but the Knights left the bases loaded.
Dunham batted 2-for-2, drew 3 walks, scored twice and drove in a run. Smith finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Adams doubled, scored twice and had a run batted in. Fuller, Allen, Elks, Wren and Moore collected 1 hit each. Moore scored twice. Allen had 2 RBIs, and Fuller had 1 RBI.
Smith started on the mound for the Knights and pitched 0.2 innings allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out two. Senior Garrison Carr worked 1 inning of relief giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out one.
Sophomore Brady Durden pitched 0.2 scoreless, hitless innings, walking 2 and striking out one. Fuller pitched 4 innings and allowed 2 runs – 1 earned – on a hit and 3 walks while striking out eight. Dunham struck out the only 2 batters that he faced in the seventh.
Skylar McNair, Jackson Matheson and Evan Ward saw mound duty for the Vikings. Matheson picked up the win, but Ward closed out the game with 3 innings of 2 hit, 1 run relief while striking out seven.
Stewart and Deleon’s 2-run singles led the Viking hitters, along with Freeman’s RBI triple and Little’s double.
West Bladen, now 2-1, will visit East Columbus Wednesday night.
West Columbus 420 000 2 — 8- 6-1
West Bladen 220 100 1 — 6-10-1
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