WINNABOW – A seven-run third-inning propelled Bladen County to a 16-10 victory over North Granville on Monday in the third round of the North Carolina Dixie Boys Baseball State Tournament at Town Creek Park.
Bladen County had rolled to a 19-3 victory over Brunswick County National on Monday morning. The Bladen All-Stars will play Brunswick County American Tuesday at 11 a.m. in an elimination game.
After North Granville grabbed an early 1-0 lead, Bladen County rallied in the home first. Devon Strange drew a leadoff walk and circled the bases on a pair of passed balls. Garrison Tatum hammered a double to center field, and Michael Young walked. Elijah Bullard drove in Garrison Tatum with a single, and Walker Ward’s sacrifice fly scored Young for a 3-1 lead.
The Granville team scored six runs in the top of the third to take a 7-3 lead, but Bladen County bounced back with seven runs to take a 10-7 lead. Garrison Tatum drilled a double to center field, and Riley Stanley walked. Bullard raked a single to left that scored Garrison Tatum. Ward sliced a single to left-center field, and Zamar Lewis walked.
Alex Strange ripped a single to left that scored Bullard and Ward. Lewis scored on an error, and Weston Hatcher walloped a double to left-center field that scored Alex Strange. Devon Strange’s infield hit plated Hatcher, Coleman Tatum walked, and Garrison Tatum yanked a single to left that plated Devon Strange.
North Granville whittled the lead to 10-9 in the top of the fourth, but Bladen answered with a run in the home fourth. Alex Strange was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced on an error and scored on a balk.
The visitors trimmed the margin to 11-10 in the top of the fifth, before Bladen pulled away with a four-run fifth inning. Devon Strange pounded a double to left field, and Coleman Tatum rapped a single to left. Garrison Tatum knocked in Devon Strange and Coleman Tatum with a single to center. Stanley and Ward both walked, and Lewis clobbered a double to left-center field that scored Garrison Tatum and Stanley.
Bladen tacked on a run in the sixth as Nathan Howell walked, stole second and third base and scored on a throwing error.
Garrison Tatum batted 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs batted in and three runs scored to lead the Bladen hitters. Alex Strange finished 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBI’s and two runs scored. Devon Strange batted 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored. Bullard finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI’s and a run scored.
Coleman Tatum batted 2-for-4 with a run scored. Lewis doubled, had 2 RBI’s and scored a run. Hatcher doubled, had an RBI and scored a run. Ward singled, had an RBI and scored a run. Young, Stanley and Howell also scored runs.
Devon Strange started on the mound for Bladen and pitched three innings, allowing seven runs on seven walks and five hits while striking out six. Bullard picked up the win with four innings of relief, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three.
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