WHITEVILLE – Bladen County rallied back from a 3-2 deficit to defeat Columbus County 5-4 Friday night in the opening round of the Dixie Youth Baseball District 2 Supplemental Tournament.
Bladen County advances to play the winner of the Whiteville Optimist/South Columbus game Saturday at 1 p.m.
Bladen County grabbed a 2-0 first-inning lead. T. J. Parker and Cory Locklear belted singles to start the rally. James Edwards walked, and Joshua Russ slammed a hit to left-centerfield. Parker and Locklear scored the Bladen runs.
Columbus County took the lead with 3 runs in the fourth, but Bladen bounced back with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. Michael Young walked, and Edwards and Russ smacked hits. Young and Edwards scored the Bladen runs in the inning.
Bladen bunched hits by Parker, Young, Edwards and Russ to tack on a run in the fifth inning. Parker scored the run. Columbus scored one run in the sixth inning but came up short.
Russ batted 3-3 to lead the Bladen hitters. Edwards finished 2-2 at the plate and scored one run. Parker batted 2-3 and scored twice. Young, Locklear and Alex Strange added one hit each for the winners. Locklear and Young scored one run each.
Strange started on the mound for Bladen County and pitched into the third inning. Young relieved Strange in the third inning and pitched the fourth and fifth innings. Parker came on to close out the game by pitching the sixth inning. Young was the winning pitcher, and Parker was credited with the save.
“I am so proud of this team,” said Bladen County Coach Jerry Strange. “They have been practicing for 2 weeks, and these kids really played their hearts out today on the field.”
About Author
