CLARKTON – Bladen County bunched 3 hits to score Landon Gause with the eventual winning run in the 7th inning Monday night and edge South Columbus 7-6 in the Dixie Youth Baseball District 2 Majors Tournament.
Bladen County will be idle Tuesday and will play again Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the championship game against Whiteville or Riegelwood.
Landon Gause led off the Bladen 7th with a single to right and Gaston Russ slapped a single up the middle. Drake Gause belted a single to right, and Sawyer King’s fielder’s choice plated Landon Gause.
Jayden Bethea struck out the last South batter in the 6th inning then retired the side 1-2-3 in the 7th to pick up the win. He struck out 2 of the 4 batters he faced.
Bladen County jumped in front with 2 runs in the 1st inning. Drake Gause reached base on a fielder’s choice, and Sawyer King yanked a single to left. Gauge King hammered a double to right, and Drake Gause and Sawyer King both scored.
After South went up 3-2 in their half of the 1st, Bladen leapfrogged back on top with 2 runs in the 2nd inning. Oxiel Campos beat out an infield hit, Bethea was hit by a pitch, and Landon Gause ripped a grounder that was misplayed at 3rd base scoring both Campos and Bethea.
South retook the lead with 2 runs in the 3rd, but Bladen rallied with 2 runs in the 5th to edge ahead 6-5. Gaston Russ drilled a double to right field, and Sawyer King laced a single to left-center field. Brooks Carroll slammed a double, and Gaston Russ and Sawyer King both scored.
South used a pair of 1-out singles, and a fielder’s choice to tie the game in the 6th.
Gaston Russ started on the mound for Bladen and pitched 0.2 innings allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. Carroll relieved and struck out 10 batters in his 5 innings of work while allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk.
Gaston Russ batted 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Gauge King finished 2-for-4 with a double, and Sawyer King was 2-for-4 and scored 2 runs. Carroll slugged the double, and Drake Gause, Campos, and Landon Gause collected 1 hit each. Drake Gause, Campos, Bethea and Landon Gause all scored runs.
Bladen County 220 020 1 — 7-10-2
South Columbus 302 001 0 — 6- 5-3
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