TABOR CITY –Bladenboro’s Gavin Elks pitched a no-hitter, and the Bulldogs exploded for 14 runs in the 3rd inning to close out a 15-0 mercy rule victory over Tabor City Wednesday in Waccamaw Middle School Conference action.
Elks struck out 7 of the 10 batters that he faced. The only Eagle base-runner came via a hit batter in the 3rd inning.
Jonah Bryan ripped a double down the left field line to lead-off the game. Hunter Hester drilled a single to left, and catcher Weston Hilburn hammered a double to left-center field as Jonah Bryan scored for a 1-0 Bulldog lead. A line-drive double play ended the inning.
Hester yanked a single to left, stole 2 bases and dashed home on a wild pitch in the 3rd inning. Hilburn was hit by a pitch, and Ashton Davis, Chase Bryan, Luke Bryant and Cole Brisson all reached base on consecutive errors and all of them scored. Corben Chadwick laced a single to right, and Jonah Bryan and Elks drew walks.
Hester knocked in Chadwick with a single, and Jonah Bryan, Elks and Hester also scored. Hilburn, Chase Bryan, Bryant and Brisson all drew walks and all of them scored.
Hester batted a perfect 3-for-3, drove in a run and scored twice. Jonah Bryan and Hilburn both doubled and both of them scored twice. Chadwick singled and scored a run.
Coach Tim Benton’s Bulldogs improved to 5-0 on the season and will travel to 2nd place Williams Township (4-1 in league play) Monday for a chance to solidify their hold on first place.
Bladenboro 10(14) – 15-6-0
Tabor City 000 – 0- 0-5
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