WINNABOW –Tyler Hill blasted a bases-loaded triple that highlighted a 6-run seventh inning and propelled Bladen County to an 11-3 victory over Hope Mills Saturday in the opening round of the North Carolina Dixie Boys Baseball State Tournament.
Down 1-0 early Bladen rallied with 2 runs in the third inning. Tyler Hill and Chase Starkloff drew walks, and hits by Raymond Autry and Ayden Piland drove them in.
Bladen County grew the lead to 5-1 with 3 runs in the fourth. Elijah Crabtree and Bryley Williams belted singles to start the inning, but Crabtree was retired on NyQuan Richardson fielder’s choice.
Hill and Starkloff delivered singles that scored Williams and Richardson. Piland laced a single that scored Hill. Hope Mills closed the gap to 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
Autry and Cromartie started the seventh inning with singles. Crabtree walked, and Williams was hit by a pitch to force home Autry. Richardson followed with a single that scored Cromartie.
Hill ripped the triple that cleaned the bases scoring Crabtree, Williams and Richardson. Starkloff smashed a double that scored Hill and padded the lead to 11-3.
Alex Brisson, Kaiden Stanley, Cromartie and Autry shared the pitching duties for Bladen County and combined on a 4-hitter with ten strike-outs. Brisson started and was relieved by Stanley in the second inning. Cromartie relieved in the fourth and worked into the sixth inning before being relieved by Autry.
Autry batted 3-4 with a run batted in and a run scored. Hill finished 2-4 at the plate with a triple, 3 runs scored and 4 rbi’s. Starkloff batted 2-4 with a double, 2 rbi’s and a run scored.
Piland also finished 2-4 at the plate with 2 rbi’s. Cromartie, Crabtree, Williams and Richardson added one hit each. Williams and Richardson scored 2 runs each. Crabtree and Cromartie scored one run each. Richardson and Williams drove in one run each.
Bladen County will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Duplin County and Columbus County at 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
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