Sophmore Ian Sykes pitched a 2-hitter and struck out nine batters to lead West Bladen to a 7-3 non-conference jayvee baseball victory Saturday over visiting West Columbus.
Sykes pitched around 9 walks and shutout the Vikings over the final 5 innings after giving up 3 runs in the first 2 innings.
Brandon Strange walloped a triple to right-centerfield to begin the Knight second inning. Shortstop Shawn Oxendine slammed a double to drive in Strange and trim the Viking lead to 3-1.
Strange reached base on an error to start the West Bladen fourth inning. Oxendine belted a single, and Cameron Peterson knocked in Strange with a single. Sykes smacked a single to drive in Oxendine with the tying run.
The Knights took the lead with 4 runs in the fifth inning. Jalen Drew and Strange drew one-out walks, and Oxendine hammered a double to drive in Drew with the go-ahead run.
After David Valenta drew a walk, Peterson ripped a single to drive in Oxendine, and Valenta scored as Sholar reached base. Peterson raced home on a wild pitch.
Oxendine batted 3-4 with a pair of doubles, 2 runs batted in and 3 runs scored to lead the Knight hitters. Peterson was a perfect 2-2 at the plate with 2 rbi’s and a run scored. Sykes finished 2-3 with a rbi.
Strange clubbed the triple and scored 2 runs. Caleb Sholar smashed a double, and Robinson added a single to the ten-hit West Bladen attack. Valenta and Drew scored one run each.
Coach Rick Rhoda’s Knights improved to 9-7 with the victory and will travel to Heide Trask Tuesday for a 4:30 game.
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