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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Clinton capitalized on 11 East Bladen errors and defeated the Eagles 13-9 Friday night in Four County Conference jayvee baseball action at East.
The Dark Horses took advantage of 3 Eagle errors to take a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the second.
In the Eagle second, Spencer Scott was hit by a pitch, and Eric Chancey drove him in with a single. Holden Clark was hit by a pitch and Davis Alsup walked.
Scott Howell’s fielder’s choice plated Chancy, and Shy Pone knocked in Clark with a single. Howell was thrown out at the plate on the play to end the inning with the score tied 3-3.
Three more East Bladen errors paved the way for 3 Clinton runs in the top of the third. In the home third, Greyson Heustess belted a single, stole second base and advanced on Pierce’s Melvin’s sacrifice. Scott’s fielder’s choice plated Heustess and trimmed the Clinton lead to 6-4.
The Dark Horses stretched their lead to 12-4 with 6 runs in the top of the fifth aided by a trio of East Bladen errors.
In the bottom of the inning, Heustess led off with a single. Two outs later, Chancy walked, and Dan Tatum walloped a double over the centerfielder’s head to drive in both runners and trim the margin to 12-6.
Clinton tacked on a run in the sixth. In the home sixth, Alsup drew a walk, and Howell cracked a single. Chancy reached base on an error, and Heustess’ infield hit brought home Alsup.
Melvin drew a walk to force home Howell with another Eagle run, and Scott’s ground-out scored Pone and trimmed the Clinton lead to 13-9. The Clinton centerfielder made a diving snow-cone catch of Tatum’s liner to end the inning with 2 runners on base.
Heustess batted 3-4 with a run batted in and 2 runs scored to lead the Eagle attack. Howell finished 2-4 at the plate with an rbi and a run scored.
Tatum blasted the 2-run double, and Pone, Chancy, Clark and Alsup connected for one hit each. Chancy scored 2 runs, and Pone, Scott, Clark and Alsup scored one run each.
Scott drove in 2 runs, and Pone and Chancy knocked in one run each.
Scott pitched the first 4 innings for East and gave up 6 runs – none earned – on 2 hits and a walk while striking out four. Melvin worked the final 3 innings on the mound and allowed 7 runs – 2 earned – on 4 hits and no walks while striking out six.
The Eagle jayvees are now 1-1 in conference play and 4-2 overall. East Bladen will host Pender Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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