Devon Strange cracked a 2-run walk-off single to left field that lifted the Bladenboro Giants to a 10-9 extra-inning victory over the Bladenboro Swamp Dogs at Wateree Park Friday night.
The victory kept the Giants alive in the battle for the Bladen County League’s Majors title.
With the Giants down 9-8, Morgan McKnight drew a lead-off walk in the home half of the seventh. Two outs later Alex Strange reached base on an infield hit, then stole second base. Devon Strange laced the game-winning hit to the opposite field to drive in McKnight and Alex Strange.
The Swamp Dogs had taken the 9-8 lead in the top of the seventh. Christian Strickland walked, moved up on a wild pitch and raced home when Wadeyn Norris smacked a single to centerfield.
The Giants jumped in front 4-0 in the first inning. Andre Moore drew a lead-off walk and Anthony Mitchell, Alex Strange and Devon Strange followed with singles. Moore, Mitchell, Alex Strange and Devon Strange all scored runs in the inning.
Strickland walked and scored the first Swamp Dog run in the second inning.
Moore walked and scored for the Giants in the third inning to grow the lead back to 5-1.
The Swamp Dogs exploded for 6 runs in the top of the fifth. Norris was hit by a pitch, and Bryley Williams walked. Brycen Blackmon blasted a double to right-centerfield that drove in Norris. Williams stole home to trim the margin to 5-3.
T. J. Parker drew a walk, and Josh Russ drove in Blackmon with a single. Nysheem Troy drove in Parker and Russ with a single, and Troy scored the final run of the inning to push the lead to 7-5.
Williams swatted a single in the Swamp Dog sixth, and Parker knocked him in with a single for an 8-5 lead.
Alex Strange reached base on catcher’s interference to begin the Giant half of the sixth, and Devon Strange, Kaiden Stanley and James Edwards connected for singles that scored Alex Strange and Devon Strange. Stanley scored the tying run on a fielder’s choice.
Devon Strange batted 3-4, scored 2 runs and drove in 4 to lead the Giants. Stanley finished 2-3 at the plate with a run scored and a run batted in. Alex Strange batted 2-4 with 3 runs scored and an rbi.
Mitchell and Edwards added one hit each. Moore scored twice, and McKnight and Mitchell scored one run each. Edwards and Mitchell had an rbi each.
Blackmon walloped 2 doubles, drove in a run and scored one for the Swamp Dogs. Norris, Williams, Parker, Russ and Troy added one hit each. Troy had 2 rbi’s, and Norris and Parker had one rbi each. Strickland and Williams scored 2 runs each, and Parker, Russ, Troy and Norris scored one run each.
Devon Strange pitched 2.2 innings in relief of Stanley to pick up the win for the Giants. Parker worked the first 6 innings on the mound for the Swamp Dogs. Williams pitched the seventh inning.
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