Bladen County Bats Shine: East and West Bladen Baseball & Softball Weekend Recap

Jayce Hatcher on the mound for East Bladen.

East Bladen Baseball: Grit, Guts, and a Doubleheader Sweep

Elizabethtown, NC - Under Thursday’s fading light, East Bladen Baseball took the field for a rare doubleheader against Pender High School.

With each game limited to five innings in regulation, the Eagles made every moment count.

Game 1: Fast Start Fuels 8-3 Win

East Bladen jumped out early, plating seven runs in the first two innings to seize control.

Debo Lewis set the tone at the plate and on the mound, scoring twice, collecting two hits, and swiping a base.

Tyler Eason drove in a run and added a stolen base of his own.

The offense remained aggressive, with Colton Daly and Zach Sholar each adding hits and steals, while Isaiah Lee came through with a key two-RBI hit.

Andrew Musslewhite crossed the plate three times, creating chaos on the basepaths.

Lewis took the ball for the Eagles and delivered a dominant outing—going the distance with five strong innings, giving up just one earned run, three hits, and striking out seven.

Pender’s late push in the fourth wasn’t enough to derail East Bladen’s early momentum.

Game 2: Extra-Inning Thriller Ends in Walk-Off Fashion

The nightcap turned into a back-and-forth battle, with the Eagles walking it off in dramatic fashion in the eighth inning.

After taking an early 2-0 lead, East Bladen saw Pender rally to tie the game and eventually go ahead in extras.

But the Eagles refused to fold.

In the bottom of the eighth, down by two, East Bladen mounted a final rally. Tyler Eason’s grounder scored Debo Lewis.

Moments later, Colton Daly delivered a clutch single to center, bringing Eason around to tie it.

With Aiden Hargrove pinch-running at first, Isaiah Lee smacked a line-drive double to left, and Hargrove hustled all the way home for the walk-off win, 6-5.

Jayce Hatcher impressed on the mound, striking out 10 over six innings and allowing just one earned run. Easton Bostic pitched the final two innings and held firm despite Pender’s late surge.

Contributions came from all corners: Lewis reached base and scored, Sholar crossed the plate twice, Musslewhite added a hit and RBI, and Braylon Cromartie swiped a key base. It was a full team effort, capped with a dramatic finish.

East Bladen Softball: Bright Moments Despite Tough Loss

Elizabethtown, NC - The East Bladen softball team battled hard Thursday against a strong Pender squad but fell 14-4. Still, there were plenty of bright spots to build on.

Gracie Clark sparked the offense with two hits and a run, while Tatum Allen drove in three runs on a pair of clutch hits. Martha Simmons, Niyah Wooten, and Mollie Tolar each crossed the plate, and Gracie Edwards and Gabriella Bray added hits to the box score.

On the mound, Jenna Brice worked 3.2 innings, striking out three and limiting the damage early. Gracie Edwards came in for 3.1 innings in relief, providing stability in the circle.

Though the final score wasn’t in their favor, the Lady Eagles showed grit and growth throughout the contest.

West Bladen Baseball: Offensive Explosion Powers 13-3 Win

Bladenboro, NC - Friday night belonged to the Knights of West Bladen, who lit up the scoreboard in a 13-3 win over St. Pauls.

It was a complete performance highlighted by timely hitting, aggressive base-running, and smart pitching.

JT Hepler led the charge with a home run, two hits, and three RBIs.

Tyler Lewis had a monster game as well, scoring three times and collecting three hits with a pair of RBIs. Brady Durden and Garrett Dunham each scored twice, with Durden driving in three runs.

The rest of the lineup followed suit: Cade Allen, Ashton Davis, Aiden Russ, and Allister Russ all chipped in with hits and run production.

The Knights never let up, keeping constant pressure on the St. Pauls defense and pulling away with a convincing win that showcased their depth and energy.

West Bladen Softball: Lady Knights Outslug St. Pauls in 12-10 Victory

Bladenboro, NC - In one of the most exciting games of the weekend, the West Bladen softball team came out on top in a high-scoring 12-10 showdown.

The bats were hot from the first pitch and stayed consistent through seven innings.

Holland Davis was a sparkplug at the top of the order, racking up three hits, scoring twice, and driving in a run.

Addison Wilcox and Marlene Crabtree each delivered two RBIs, while Lauren Douglas matched them with two hits and two RBIs of her own.

Kali Allen and Marlie Walters added timely hits, and Brenna Hester crossed the plate twice with smart base-running.

Pitching duties were split between Allison Hickman and Marlene Crabtree.

Hickman struck out six over 2.1 innings, while Crabtree battled through 4.1 frames to earn the win.

It was a true team effort, and the Lady Knights' ability to respond at the plate helped them weather St. Pauls’ rallies and come out with a thrilling victory.

Bladen County Bats Shine: East and West Bladen Baseball & Softball Weekend Recap