Leland’s second-baseman turned a double play that ended the game and kept a potential Bladen County tying run from scoring as Leland edged the Bladen team 9-8 in the North Carolina DYB Coach-Pitch State Tournament at Pembroke Saturday. Bladen County had runners at first and third base when the Leland fielder played the ball near the bag, stepped on second base and fired to first for the final out.
“We played good. It was a good game by both teams,” said Bladen Coach Joseph Russ. “I couldn’t ask for anything more from my guys.” Aiden Russ slammed a first-inning double and scooted home when Cade Allen hammered a triple. Conner Monroe swatted a double that scored Allen for a 2-0 Bladen lead.
Leland answered with 2 runs in the first and one in the second, but Bladen County tied the game in the third as Richard Severine smacked a single and darted home when Chason Harris belted a single. Leland went back up 6-3 in the home half of the third, but Monroe cracked a fourth inning single and dashed home when Neveah Singletary laced a single to trim the margin to 6-4. A 3-run fifth inning widened the Leland lead to 9-4, but Bladen fought back in the top of the sixth. Russ and Allen ignited the rally with singles, and Monroe knocked both of them in with a double. Singletary ripped a single to drive in Monroe, and after Malikah Moore singled, Tyler Jacobs smashed a single that scored Singletary and sliced the lead to 9-8. Monroe knocked in 3 runs with a pair of doubles and finished 3-3 at the plate with 2 runs scored.
Russ also batted 3-3 with a double and 2 runs scored. Singletary drove in 2 runs with her 3-3 performance that included a double and a run scored. Severine batted a perfect 2-2 with a run scored, and Harris also finished 2-2 at the plate with a run batted in. Allen drove in a run with a triple, scored twice and batted 2-3. Moore also batted 2-3, and Jacobs, Emmanuel Drew, and Hunter Hester connected for one hit each. Jacobs also drove in a run. Bladen County will play Lumberton National at 12:30 Sunday in an elimination game. If Bladen County wins, they will play again Sunday at 5 p.m. against the Leland/Reidsville loser.
Share this article using the shortlink: https://bladencounty.org/?p=18500
About Author
