CLARKTON – East Columbus held off several Clarkton rallies and edged the Blue Devils 3-2 Monday in Waccamaw Middle School Conference baseball action.
The Blue Devils stranded 10 runners on base and had 2 more thrown out on the bases. A hit batsman and a walk by Prince Powell put 2 runners on base in the Clarkton 5th, but a pick-off play retired the lead runner. Ryne Priest smacked a single that sent Powell to 2nd base, but 2 strikeouts ended the game.
Xavier King walked and scored on Kamden Coker’s single in the East Columbus 1st inning. Coker pounded a triple to right-center field in the 3rd inning to drive in King who had singled. Coker later scored to put the Hawks up 3-0.
Pitcher Jerod Smith walked and eventually scored the 1st Blue Devil run on an error in the home 3rd. Isaiah Atkins walked in the 4th inning and raced home on a wild pitch after walks to Omar Powell and Smith to trim the East lead to 3-2.
Jerod Smith pitched 4 innings for the Blue Devils and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 9. Omar Powell worked a scoreless inning of relief and gave up 2 hits. King tripled to start that inning, but Blue Devil 2nd baseman Zahmarion Pone threw him out at the plate with a strong relay throw to Priest, the catcher.
Priest’s single accounted for the only CSD hit. East pitchers J. T. Hudson and King combined to strike out 12 batters – 8 by Hudson – but issued 10 walks. Coker batted 3-for-3 with a triple, and King was 2-for-2 with a triple.
Clarkton, now 3-2, is slated to host West Columbus Thursday. East Columbus improved to 4-0 and will entertain Tar Heel Wednesday.
East Columbus 102 00 — 3-5-1
Clarkton 001 10 — 2-1-0
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