BLADENBORO – Five West Bladen Knights – senior Jordan Hester, juniors Brady Durden and Garrett Dunham, sophomore Hunter Hester and freshman Ashton Davis – have been named to the 2024 All-Southeastern Athletic Conference baseball team. Dunham was also named the SAC Player of the Year.
First baseman Jordan Hester batted .250 with 14 hits, 9 runs scored, 7 runs batted in, 3 doubles and posted a .417 on-base percentage. He lined a game-winning single to left in the 2nd place clinching 1-0 win over Red Springs. Jordan belted 2 hits and scored 2 runs in a key win at Fairmont.
Durden, a pitcher/infielder, batted .214 with 12 hits, 4 runs scored, 10 RBIs, a double and a triple. Durden clobbered a bases-loaded triple and finished with 4 RBIs in the 9-3 win at Fairmont. Defensively he participated in 6 double plays during his time at shortstop and second base.
On the mound Durden struck out 11 batters in 21.1 innings, posted a 2-1 record and a miniscule 0.98 earned run average. The right-hander pitched 7-plus innings in the playoff game at Martin County allowing only 5 hits and no earned runs. Durden picked up a pair of wins with 4 innings of 3-hit relief against Lumberton and 3 innings of 2-hit relief at South View.
Pitcher/infielder Hunter Hester struck out 41 batters in 36.2 innings and recorded a 3-2 record with a 2.29 earned run average. At the plate Hunter smacked 9 hits, scored 9 runs, had 8 RBIs and smashed 3 doubles.
The tall right-hander struck out 11 batters and pitched a complete game 5-hitter in a 6-2 win at Red Springs. At the plate he drove in 2 runs with a pair of doubles. He worked 3.2 no-hit innings in a 12-0 win over St. Pauls’ and pitched a complete game 4-hitter in an 8-3 win over East Bladen.
Davis, an infielder/pitcher, batted .311 with 19 hits, 10 runs scored, 8 RBIs, 2 triples and posted a .425 on-base percentage. He walloped a 3-run triple to break open the 12-0 win over St. Pauls’ and connected for 2 hits and scored a run in the tough 3-2 playoff loss.
On the mound, Davis struck out 27 batters in 32.1 innings and posted a 1-2 record with a 3.90 earned run average. The right-hander pitched 4 innings allowing only 2 hits and no earned runs in the 9-3 win at Fairmont.
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