By John Clark
FAYETTEVILLE – Terry Sanford rallied from deficits of 5-0 and 7-5 to defeat East Bladen 12-9 Wednesday night in the championship game of their own Bulldog Easter Invitational Tournament.
With 3 games in 3 days both teams pitching staffs were severely taxed and walks proved pivotal. “Eleven walks in 4 innings. We have got to do a better job with our pitching,” said Eagle Coach Grant Pait. “But I feel like this team is right where we want them to be. We are hitting the ball better now.”
East Bladen struck early as senior Marlan Davis drew a lead-off walk, advanced on a wild pitch and raced home when senior Zamar Lewis scorched a single through the middle. Senior Ty Mathis blasted a 2-run home run over the left field fence that scored Lewis for a 3-0 lead.
Davis drilled a double down the right field line to start the Eagle 3rd inning. Senior Evan Pait smashed a single to right field, and Lewis walked. Mathis and junior Jake Futrell launched back-to-back sacrifice flies that scored Davis and Pait to boost the East lead to 5-0.
A fly-out began the Bulldog 3rd inning, but the next 3 batters drew walks. A run scored on a wild pitch, before senior Andrew Kittenger slapped a 2-run single to right field. Brent Smith greeted East reliever Coleman Tatum with a line drive off his foot. A hit batter and a walk forced home a 4th run, and the tying run scored on a passed ball.
First baseman Lewis flashed the leather with an outstanding backhanded stop then beat the batter to the bag to end the inning.
Junior Lee Barnes walked with 1 out in the Eagle 4th inning, and Garrison Tatum lined a single to center field. A pickoff play retired a baserunner, but junior Tyler Johnson laced a single to right-center field. Davis beat out an infield hit that plated Cole Butler, the courtesy runner for Garrison Tatum, and a throwing error on the play scored Johnson to push East ahead 7-5.
Two walks, a bunt and a wild pitch produced a Bulldog run in the home 4th. Junior Na’Toren Corbett relieved Garrison Tatum, but an error and Brent Smith’s 3-run double down the left field line vaulted Terry Sanford in front. Another bunt and 3 walks added 2 more runs as the lead grew to 11-7.
Barnes relieved and retired the final batter in the 4th inning, and an infield hit, a throwing error and Gehrig Hodges’ RBI single stretched the margin to 12-7 in the 5th inning.
Senior Weston Hatcher smoked a single to center field to start the Eagle 6th inning. Barnes legged out an infield hit, and Garrison Tatum’s fly ball to right was dropped. Hatcher sprinted home on a wild pitch, and Davis’ sacrifice fly to right scored Barnes to trim the margin to 12-9.
East Bladen loaded the bases in the 7th when Mathis parachuted a double into right field, Hatcher sliced a single to right, and Barnes was hit by a pitch. However, a double play ended the game.
Pait batted 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead the East hitters. Davis finished a perfect 2-for-2 game with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Mathis walloped the homer and a double and was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored. Hatcher batted 2-for-4 with a run scored. Lewis, Barnes, Garrison Tatum and Johnson connected for 1 hit each. Lewis, Barnes, Garrison Tatum, Johnson and Butler scored runs, and Lewis and Futrell had RBIs.
Mathis started on the mound and pitched 2.1 innings allowing 4 runs on 5 walks and 2 hits while striking out 3. Coleman Tatum worked 0.2 innings of relief and gave up 4 runs on 3 walks and a hit while striking out one. Corbett pitched 0.2 innings and allowed 3 runs – 1 earned – on 3 walks and a hit. Barnes worked the final 2.1 innings and gave up a run on 5 hits and no walks.
Six of the 11 walks the Eagles issued in the game came around to score runs.
Hodges batted 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Bulldog hitters. Brent Smith was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Kittenger finished 2-for-5 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Josh Mozingo and Ethan Nobles, the top 2 hitters in the Bulldog order, walked 4 times each and scored 2 runs each. Nobles also doubled.
Nobles pitched 5 innings and was charged with 7 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks to pick up the win. Nic Lane and Mozingo combined for 2 innings of relief.
The Bulldogs improved to 17-2 with the victory, while the Eagles, now 6-9, return to Southeastern Athletic Conference play Tuesday night when they host Fairmont.
East Bladen 302 202 0 — 9-13-2
Terry Sanford 005 610 x — 12- 9-2
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