NAKINA – Cole Brisson walloped the game-deciding double and 3 Bladenboro pitchers combined on a no-hitter as the Bulldogs clinched a share of the Waccamaw Middle School ‘A’ Conference’s championship with a 4-3 8-inning victory over Nakina Thursday.
With the score tied 1-1 in the top of the 8th inning, Gauge King drew a 2-out walk, Sawyer King smacked a single off the pitcher, and Andrew Wren reached base on a fielder’s choice. Brisson then pounded his double over the center fielder’s head to drive in all 3 baserunners and put the Bulldogs up 4-1.
Chase Bryan had relieved Bulldog starting pitcher Ashton Davis to retire the last batter in the 7th inning. Bryan issued 3 walks to start the 8th inning and was relieved by Cole Brisson. Bryan went back to 2nd base where he fielded a grounder from the next batter, flipped to Davis who was now at shortstop and who fired on to first baseman Brooks Carroll to complete a double play.
The Mustangs scored on the double play and added another run but a fly ball to Sawyer King in right field ended the game.
Davis was the story through the game’s 1st 7 innings. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 17 batters and allowed 0 hits, 4 walks and 2 hit batters through 6.2 innings before reaching the pitch-count limit. Bryan pitched 0.1 inning, and Brisson pitched a hitless 8th inning to complete the no-hitter.
Bladenboro led 1-0 when Davis issued his final 2 walks to begin the Nakina 7th. The next batter struck out, but a passed ball on the pitch allowed the lead runner to score the tying run. However catcher Devan Stanley threw out the trail runner at 3rd base, and Bryan retired the next batter on a ground out to Carroll end the inning.
The Bulldogs scored with 2 out in the 5th. Brisson and Bryan drew walks, and Davis knocked in Brisson with a single.
Brisson smashed the 3-run double and scored a run to lead the Bulldog hitters. Davis singled home a run, and Bryan, Gauge King and Sawyer King added 1 hit each. Gauge King, Sawyer King and Wren scored 1 run each.
Coach Tim Benton’s Bulldogs improved to 6-1 in the league and 7-1 overall. A Bladenboro win next week against Clarkton or a Williams loss to Nakina or Tabor City would clinch the outright title for the Bulldogs.
Bladenboro 000 010 03 — 4-5-0
Nakina 000 000 12 — 3-0-2
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