WINNABOW – Columbus County defeated Bladen County 7-3 Monday night in an elimination game in the North Carolina Dixie Boys State Baseball Tournament.
Columbus County turned a single and an error into a first inning run then added 3 more in the second on 2 hits and 2 errors.
Bladen County trimmed the margin to 4-1 in the third. Zach Meares walked and Brady Hollingsworth belted a single to drive him in.
Columbus County capitalized on an error, a fielder’s choice and a hit to stretch the lead to 6-1 in the third inning.
Bladen County sliced the Columbus lead to 6-3 with 2 runs in the sixth. Meares walked and raced home when Raymond Autry’s drive to rightfield was misplayed by the fielder. Jacob Priest knocked in Autry with a single.
Columbus tacked on a run in the home sixth on 2 hits and a walk.
Tyler Hill batted 2-3 to lead the Bladen hitters. Meares singled, walked twice and scored 2 runs. Hollingsworth and Priest cracked run-scoring singles. Drew Sholar smacked a first-inning single for the other Bladen hit.
Sholar started on the mound for Bladen and pitched 2.2 innings allowing 6 unearned runs on 4 hits and a hit batter. Autry pitched a third of an inning and gave up a walk and a hit while striking out one. Meares pitched the final 3 innings and allowed a run on 3 hits and a walk while striking out six.
Bladen County finished with a 2-2 record in the tournament.
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