East Bladen Hands Whiteville Rare Loss, Extends Winning Streak to Four

Elizabethtown, NC - On a crisp night at home, East Bladen delivered one of its most impressive performances of the season, taking down powerhouse Whiteville 3-1 in Waccamaw Conference action.

The victory marks just the second loss of the season for the defending 2A Eastern Regional Champions and state runner-ups. Ranked No. 35 in North Carolina across all classifications and No. 2 in 2A, Whiteville came in as the heavy favorite, but East Bladen had other plans.

Jayce Hatcher turned in a gutsy, complete-game effort on the mound, throwing all seven innings and keeping the Wolfpack in check. Hatcher allowed just five hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and walking three. His poise under pressure and command of the strike zone helped East Bladen secure its fourth straight win and seventh in the last nine games.

The Eagles wasted no time getting on the board.

In the bottom of the first, Debo Lewis reached base and later came around to score when Isaiah Lee ripped a triple into right field. Lee continued to be a spark plug in the lineup, later adding a double and finishing the game with two RBIs on two hard-hit balls to right field.

Andrew Musslewhite played a key role in the third, reaching base and scoring on Lee’s second RBI knock of the night. Musslewhite also added a hit of his own and brought consistent energy on the basepaths.

In the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Eason provided some breathing room for East Bladen, scoring on a wild pitch to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead. Eason also recorded a hit earlier in the game, contributing to the balanced offensive attack.

Colton Daly added a base hit of his own, while Lewis led off the game strong with a two-hit performance and a run scored. Zach Sholar made a couple of trips to the plate and worked solid at-bats.

Meanwhile, Hatcher, Aiden Hargrove, and Braylon Cromartie each drew a walk, showing patience and plate discipline that helped put pressure on Whiteville’s pitching staff throughout the game.

With the win, East Bladen improves to 8-7 overall and 7-4 in conference play.

The team has found its rhythm at a crucial time and will now prepare for a rematch on Wednesday, this time traveling to Whiteville’s home field.

A win against a top-ranked opponent is a statement—and the Eagles made it loud and clear.

East Bladen Hands Whiteville Rare Loss, Extends Winning Streak to Four