03/28/2024
Spread the love

LA GRANGE – Senior Zach Meares pitched a 2-hit shutout and struck out 9 batters Saturday night to lead East Bladen to a 5-0 victory over North Lenoir that propelled the Eagles into the NCHSAA Class 2A Eastern Championship Game.

Coach Grant Pait’s Eagles improved to 12-4 with the victory and will host Randleman (16-1) Tuesday night in the Eastern Finals.

[slideshow_deploy id=’213663′]
Photos by Kenneth Armstrong

Meares allowed only 2 hits – both to Luke Cannon – walked one and hit a batter. Only twice in the game did a Hawk runner reach 2nd base.

The Eagles threatened early, having a runner thrown out at 3rd base in the 1st inning and leaving the bases loaded in both the 2nd and 3rd innings.

Junior Ethan Johnson ripped a single through the middle in the 4th inning and raced all the way to 3rd base on a Hawk error. Moments later Johnson darted home on a wild pitch with the 1st Eagle run.

The Eagles left 11 runners on base in the 1st 4 innings and left 15 runners on base in the game.

Senior Jacob Priest drew a 2-out walk in the East Bladen 6th inning, and Lefredrick Wooten lined a single to left field. Marlin Davis entered the game as a pinch-runner for Priest and quickly darted to 3rd base on a wild pitch. Senior Brady Hollingsworth smashed a single to 2nd base that scored Davis. Senior Drew Sholar smacked a single to shortstop that scored Wooten and stretched the Eagle lead to 3-0.

Johnson reached base on an error in the 7th inning and raced to 3rd base when Rasean McKoy rapped a single to the right side. McKoy stole 2nd base, and an error on the play scored Johnson and allowed McKoy to dash to 3rd base. Meares reached base on an error, and Wooten and Hollingsworth drew walks that forced home McKoy with the run that pushed the lead to 5-0.

Wooten batted 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored to lead the Eagle hitters. Sholar finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a run batted in. Johnson, McKoy, Priest and Hollingsworth connected for 1 hit each. Hollingsworth had 2 RBIs. Johnson scored 2 runs, and McKoy and Davis scored 1 run each.

Jamir Jones-Gatling started and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for the Hawks. Thomas Hill allowed 1 run in his 1.1 innings on the mound. Chase Jones pitched the final 3 innings and gave up 4 runs – 2 earned – on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out five.

The Hawks finished their season with a 13-4 record.

About Author