BLADENBORO – An 8-run, 5th inning explosion broke open a close game and vaulted West Bladen to an 11-2 non-conference JV baseball opening game victory over East Columbus Thursday.
The Knights carried a 3-2 lead into the home 5th that Hezekiah Adams began with a lead-off walk. Adams swiped 2nd base and moved up when Brady Durden ripped a single to left. Walks to Garrett Dunham and Cade Allen forced home Adams and padded the lead to 4-2.
Allister Russ cracked a double that scored Brady Durden and Dunham. Luke Pait pinch-ran for Russ, and Jordan Hester walked. Allen was thrown out at the plate, but Pait stole home. Matt Kemp ran for Hester, and Mason Jones and Aiden Russ both walked.
Luke Howell hammered a double to right field that scored Kemp and Jones. Aiden Russ and Howell both darted home on wild pitches to push the final margin to 11-2.
Allen started on the mound for the Knights and pitched 1.2 innings, allowing 2 unearned runs on 1 hit while striking out three. Adams relieved and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Adams gave 1 hit and struck out one. Allister Russ pitched the final 2 scoreless innings allowing a hit and striking out one.
Brady Durden batted 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored to lead the Knight hitters. Allister Russ and Howell belted 2-run doubles, and Howell scored a run. Adams, Dunham, Allen and Will Durden connected for 1 hit each. Allen and Will Durden drove in 1 run each. Dunham scored twice, and Adams, Allen, Pait, Kemp, Jones and Aiden Russ scored 1 run each.
Dunham lined a 2-out single to right field in the Knight 1st inning. Allen lashed a single to left, and Dunham raced to 3rd base on a wild pitch. Will Durden knocked in Dunham with a single to left.
After the Gators used 3 hit batters and an error to go up 2-1 in the 2nd inning, the Knights retook the lead with 2 runs in the third. Brady Durden yanked a single to left and dashed home as Allen reached 2nd base on an error. An error on Will Durden’s grounder scored Allen for a 3-2 West lead.
West Bladen, now 1-0, will visit West Columbus Friday for a 4 p.m. game.
East Columbus 020 00 – 2-3-2
West Bladen 102 08 – 11-8-2
About Author
