PEMBROKE – Jordan Hester laced a 2-run single that capped a 5-run 7th inning rally and vaulted West Bladen to a 12-10 victory over Purnell Swett in the opening game of their best-of-3 Jr. American Legion playoff series Friday night.
The 2 teams play again Saturday at 7 p.m. at West Bladen. Another victory would capture the series for West, while Purnell Swett needs a win to force a 3rd and deciding game Sunday night. The Knights evened their season record at 4-4 with Friday’s win.
Swett carried a 10-7 lead into the 7th inning, but Jackson Smith was hit by pitch, and Josh Dawson singled. A walk to Aiden Russ loaded the bases. Brady Durden ripped a 1-out double that scored Smith and Dawson.
Ashton Davis knocked in Aiden Russ with the tying run with a single, and Cade Allen walked, before Hester delivered his hit that plated Davis and Allen and put West ahead 12-10.
The first 2 Swett batters in the home 7th drew walks, but a fly-out and a double play ended the game.
Brady Durden led off the game with a single, stole a base and raced home when Allen pounded a double for a 1-0 Knight lead.
Two-out walks to Chase Bryan, Aiden Russ, Durden and Davis forced home Bryan in the West 2nd inning. Allen then walloped a bases-clearing double that scored Aiden Russ, Durden and Davis for a 5-0 Knight lead.
The Rams used 10 walks in the next 2 innings to score 5 runs and tie the game 5-5. Three hits and 3 walks plated 4 more Swett runs in the 5th inning and pushed the Rams in front 9-5.
Aiden Russ walked to start the West 6th inning and scored when Allen blasted a triple. Allen scored as Hester reached base on an error that whittled the Ram lead to 9-7.
A single, a hit batter and a fielder’s choice produced a Swett run in the home 6th and upped the count to 10-7.
Allen batted 3-for-3 with a triple, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs and 2 runs scored to lead the West hitters. Durden finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Hester cracked the 2-run single, and Davis, Luke Pait and Dawson added 1 hit each. Aiden Russ walked 3 times and scored 3 runs. Davis had 2 RBIs and scored twice. Smith, Dawson and Bryan scored runs.
Allen, Caison Brixey, Smith and Allister Russ all saw time on the mound for the Knights and combined for 6 strikeouts. The Rams drew 14 walks, and West Bladen was issued 9 walks.
West Bladen 140 002 5 — 12-9-0
Purnell Swett 023 041 0 — 10-3-2
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