Pierce Melvin and Shy Pone combined to pitch a no-hitter and only faced one batter over the minimum as Bladen County defeated Hope Mills 10-0 in the Dixie Boys State Tournament Sunday afternoon in Southport.
Melvin started on the mound for Bladen County and struck out four in his 2.1 innings of work. The right-hander retired the side in order in both of his two innings of work.
Pone came on to strike out the first 2 batters that he faced in the third inning and pitched a hitless 2.2 innings of relief. Pone issued two walks, but both were thrown out attempting to steal bases.
Bladen County exploded for six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Josh McKoy led off the inning with a single to left field. Pone blasted a double to deep left-center field to score McKoy.
Greyson Heustess walked and Melvin cracked a single that plated Pone. Jake Butler was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Spencer Scott hammered a double that drove in Heustess and Melvin.
Eric Chancey’s ground-out brought home Jake Evans who was pinch running for Butler. Jay McKoy smacked a single that scored Scott with the sixth run of the inning.
Pone began the Bladen County second with a single, and Melvin reached base on an error. Pone advanced on Butler’s fielder’s choice and raced home when Scott laced a single that extended the lead to 7-0.
Chancey beat out an infield single to start the Bladen County third. Two outs later, Chancey was thrown out attempting to steal second base on a close play to end the inning.
Dalton Pait belted a single to lead off the Bladen County fifth, and Holden Clark reached base on an error. Scott knocked in Pait with a single to left.
Davis Alsup drew a walk to load the bases. One out later, Josh McKoy ripped a single that drove in Clark and Scott and ended the game on the 10-run rule.
Scott slammed a double and two singles to drive in 3 runs and lead the 12-hit Bladen County attack. Teammate Josh McKoy knocked in 2 runs with a pair of singles.
Pone hammered a double and a single and drove in a run for the Bladen team. Melvin, Pait, Chancey and Jay McKoy added one hit each, and Melvin, Butler and Chancey drove in one run each.
Bladen County will play Kings Mountain at 7:00 Monday in a winners’ bracket game.
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