03/29/2024
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LELAND – Ryan Johnson slugged a pair of 3-run homers to lead Elizabethtown to an 11-9 victory over East Duplin Saturday in the opening round of the North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball Majors State Tournament.

After East Duplin scored in the top of the first inning, Elizabethtown answered with 3 runs in the bottom half. Garrison Tatum was hit by a pitch, and Evan Pait yanked a single to leftfield. Ty Mathis knocked in Garrison Tatum with a single to left. Walker Ward’s infield hit plated Pait, and Mathis scored for a 3-1 lead.

East Duplin scored a run in the second and leaped in front 4-3 with 2 runs in the third.

Elizabethtown rallied as Garrison Tatum slapped a single to right-centerfield, Pait reached base on an error. Ryan Johnson blasted a home run that plated Tatum and Pait and vaulted Elizabethtown ahead 6-4.

Back came East Duplin with 4 runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-6 lead.

Garrison Tatum and Mathis were both hit by pitches to begin the Elizabethtown fifth. Ryan Johnson walloped another homer that scored Garrison Tatum and Mathis.

Ward swatted a single to left-centerfield, but was retired on Coleman Tatum’s fielder’s choice. Tyler Johnson cracked a single, and Weston Hatcher drove in both Coleman Tatum and Tyler Johnson with a single to right-centerfield that padded the Elizabethtown lead to 11-8.

Evan Pait pitched the first 2 innings for Elizabethtown and was followed to the mound by Coleman Tatum, Ryan Johnson and Destin Montgomery. Mathis came on to get the final out in the fourth and picked up the win with 2.1 innings of relief, striking out 6 and allowing a run on 2 walks and a hit.

Johnson finished 2-3 at the plate with the 2 homers and 6 runs batted in. Ward also batted 2-3. Garrison Tatum, Pait, Mathis, Tyler Johnson and Hatcher connected for one hit each.

Elizabethtown advances to a 6:30 p.m. game Sunday against South Park.

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