LUMBERTON – Brady Durden pitched 3 scoreless, hitless innings of relief, and Garrett Dunham batted 3-for-5 to lead a 10-hit West Bladen attack as the Knights defeated Lumberton 14-8 Monday night in Junior American Legion baseball action.
West Bladen jumped in front 3-0 in the 1st inning. Dunham led off the game with a single to center field, and Brady Durden reached base on an error. Cade Allen lined a single to right field and an error on the play scored Dunham, Durden and Allen.
Two walks, J. Garner’s single and a passed ball produced a Lumberton run in the bottom of the inning. Three walks, 3 Knight errors and 4 hits resulted in 7 Lumberton runs in the 3rd inning as the Pirates took an 8-3 lead.
West Bladen bounced back and tied the game 8-8 by scoring 5 runs in the 4th inning. Ashton Davis pounded a double to center field, then scored on Tyler Lewis’ sacrifice bunt. Aiden Russ walked, and Allister Russ raked a single to shortstop. Dunham smoked a single through the middle that scored Aiden Russ. Brady Durden raked a single to left that scored Allister Russ and Dunham. Allen walloped a double to center field that scored Brady Durden.
The Knights moved ahead with 2 runs in the 5th. Gavin Elks and Lewis drew walks. Elks moved up on a passed ball and dashed home on Allister Russ’ sacrifice fly. Dunham drilled a single to left that scored Lewis.
Jordan Hester and Josh Dawson walked to start the West 6th inning, and Davis reached base on an error. Hester sprinted home on a passed ball, and Chase Bryan, the courtesy runner for Dawson, darted home on a passed ball to pad the lead to 12-8.
Allen reached base on an error in the 7th inning, and Hester laced a single to center field. Luke Pait knocked in Allen with a single to center field. Hester advanced on a passed ball and scored when Davis launched a sacrifice fly to center field.
Dunham drove in 2 runs and scored 2 runs. Allen batted 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and 2 runs scored. Davis doubled, and Allister Russ, Pait, Hester and Brady Durden added 1 hit each. Durden had 2 RBIs and Pait, Davis, Lewis and Allister Russ had 1 RBI each. Durden and Hester scored 2 runs each, and Davis, Lewis, Aiden Russ, Bryan, Elks and Allister Russ scored runs.
Allen started on the mound and pitched 2.1 innings allowing 4 runs on 2 hits and 6 walks while striking out 2. Davis worked 1.2 innings of relief and gave up 4 runs – 2 earned – on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out one. Durden struck out 5 and picked up the save with his 3 hitless innings.
Chatler Maynor, Nolan Groner, Noah Britt, Brennan Griffin, J. Garner and Bryson Hester had 1 hit each for Lumberton.
West Bladen improved to 2-3 with the win and will host Hobbton Wednesday night.
West Bladen 300 522 1 — 14-10-4
Lumberton 107 000 0 — 8- 6-8
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