Raymond Autry, Ayden Piland and Zach Meares combined to pitch a one-hitter and strike out 9 batters as their Gators defeated the Tigers in Bladen County Recreation’s Dixie Boys Baseball opener Friday night at County Park.
Autry started on the mound for the Gators and gave up a run on a walk and 2 hit batters while striking out four. Piland retired 9 of the 10 batters that he faced in the middle 3 innings and gave up the only Tiger hit as he picked up the win. Meares struck out 5 of the 7 batters that he faced and walked one.
Meares cracked a one-out single to centerfield in the first inning and came around to score the first Gator run.
The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the second as Rasean McKoy and Greyson Clark were both hit by pitches, and McKoy scored the tying run.
Ethan Johnson slammed a double to rightfield in the Gator fourth inning and raced home with go-ahead run when Autry walloped a triple to left-centerfield for a 2-1 lead.
Piland ripped a double to centerfield in the fifth, and Victor Campbell knocked him in with a single to centerfield.
Johnson smashed a double to right-centerfield in the Gator sixth inning. After a walk to Autry, catcher Jacob Priest reached base on a fielder’s choice as Johnson scored. Piland laced a single to centerfield that plated Priest and pushed the lead to 5-1.
Johnson batted 2-3 with a pair of doubles to lead the Gator hitters. Piland also finished 2-3 at the plate with a double, and Autry slugged the triple. Cameron clubbed a double, and Meares and Campbell added one single each to the 8-hit Gator attack.
Mahki Cromartie belted a single to centerfield in the fourth inning for the only Tiger hit.
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