03/28/2024
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LELAND – Scott Bowen and Trent West belted back-to-back home runs in the second inning Saturday afternoon as two-time defending champion West Bladen opened the N.C. Dixie Pre-Majors state tournament with an 11-1 win over West Fayetteville.

Jeremy Hunt and Ray Jones combined on a four-hitter on the mound as the Knights, now 13-5 for the summer season, advanced to the winner’s bracket final Sunday against the winner of Saturday night’s Columbus County-Duplin County game. Sunday’s game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at North Brunswick High School, but may begin earlier depending on the length of the two preceding games.

The championship round is scheduled Monday. The tournament winner earns a berth in the World Series scheduled to begin July 25 in Guntersville, Alabama. West Bladen has represented North Carolina in the past two World Series.

Hunt had three hits to lead the Knights’ 11-hit attack. Donald McCullum, Bowen and West each had two hits. Hunter Pait and Jones each had doubles. Bowen and McCullum each drove in two runs while West, Jones and Hunter Pait each had a RBI. Caleb Sholar, Bowen, West and Chandler Lennon each scored two runs while Seth Britt, McCullum and Jones each scored once.

Hunt pitched 4 2/3 innings before leaving because of the 105-pitch limit. The right-hander allowed three hits, struck out seven, walked five and allowed West Fayetteville’s only run in the fourth inning. Jones allowed a hit and walked one in 1 1/3 innings.

The Knights wasted no time taking control of the game, scoring five runs in the first inning and four more in the second.

In the first, Hunt led off with a double to deep left. Britt had a sacrifice bunt and ended up at second on an error on the play that allowed courtesy runner Sholar to score. Britt then stole third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. With two outs, Lennon walked and stole second. McCullum reached on an infield single and went to second on an error that scored Lennon. Jones followed with a double down the left field line that scored McCullum. Pait capped the rally with a double to left that scored Jones.

In the second, Hunt opened with a single up the middle and Britt’s sacrifice bunt advanced courtesy runner Sholar to second. Bowen then blasted a two-run home run to left that just stayed fair. West then crushed one over the left field fence that made it 8-0. Lennon followed with a walk, stole second, and scored on a pair of wild pitches.

After West Fayetteville used a pair of walks, a fielder’s choice and a single to score its lone run in the fourth, the Knights closed out the game in the sixth. With one out, Bowen and West singled. After each advanced a base, McCullum slapped a two-out single to center that scored two runs, giving West Bladen a 10 run lead.

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