SOUTHPORT – Bladen County advanced to the ‘Final Four’ of the North Carolina Dixie Boys State Tournament Tuesday with a 6-5 victory over Brunswick County.
Bladen County will play the winner of Tuesday night’s Dallas/Kings Mountain game at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Greyson Clark, Cody Butler and Zach Meares combined to pitch Bladen County to the victory.
The Bladen team scored twice in the first inning. Ethan Johnson smacked a lead-off single and moved up on a passed ball. Gabe Barber reached base on an error and stole second base. Meares’ fielder’s choice brought home Johnson, and Brady Hollingsworth reached base on an error as Barber scored.
In the Bladen third inning, Barber was hit by a pitch, and Meares reached base on an error. Barber raced home on a passed ball, and Xavier McKoy drew a walk. Meares later scored the second run of the inning for Bladen County.
McKoy ripped a double down the rightfield line in the fifth inning, and Drew Sholar knocked in McKoy with a double to right-centerfield.
Johnson belted a single to centerfield to start the Bladen County sixth inning. Barber laced a single to left-centerfield. Cody Butler singled to load the bases with one out. Hollingsworth then launched a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Johnson with the eventual deciding run.
Barber batted 2-3 with 2 runs scored. Johnson finished 2-4 at the plate with 2 runs scored. McKoy doubled and scored a run, and Sholar slugged the run-scoring double.
Cody Butler and Jake Evans added one hit each for the winners. Meares scored a run and drove one in. Hollingsworth also had a run batted in.
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