West Bladen’s Knights travel 218 miles up to the North-East corner of the the state Saturday night to battle the Edenton Holmes Aces at historic Hicks Field in NCHSAA Class 2-A Baseball second round play-off action.
Junior Jeremy Hunt fired a 6-hit shut-out and struck out 8 Wednesday night to lead the Knights to a 2-0 first round victory at Ayden-Grifton.
Hunt, sophomore Trent West and freshman Scott Bowen headline the pitching options for Coach Kim Cain in tonight’s second round game.
The Knights were held to 4 hits against Ayden-Grifton – singles by West, senior catcher Colby McLean, senior Joseph Miller and junior Donald McCullum. Senior center-fielder Trevor Lesane who batted 7-11 during the last week of the season is another leading hitter for the Knights.
Senior Austin Melton pitched a 3-hitter and struck out nine as the Aces edged South Lenoir 1-0 to pick up their first round win. Melton also knocked in the lone run of the game with a first inning single after sophomore Patrick Downum had started the inning with a double.
Senior Cody Parks is another leading hitter for the Aces. Sophomore Cole Turner is another pitching option for Edenton.
Holmes won the Northeastern Coastal Conference with a 10-2 record.
Hicks Field was built in 1939 as part of a Works Progress Administration project and was home to semi-pro and minor league baseball up until 1952. Some minor league teams conducted spring training in Edenton, and a number of major leaguers have played at Hicks Field including Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller.
The field underwent extensive renovations in 1997 and was re-opened in 1998 as the home of the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plains League and of the Edenton Holmes Aces. Hicks Field is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
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