East Bladen’s Parker Greene runing towards the batter box during a game against West Bladenn earlier in the season.
                                 Alex Brooks | Bladen Journal

East Bladen’s Parker Greene runing towards the batter box during a game against West Bladenn earlier in the season.

Alex Brooks | Bladen Journal

EAST BLADEN

FAYETTEVILLE – The East Bladen Eagles defeated the Western Harnett Eagles for a 2-0 victory on Saturday night in the Bulldog Easter Invitational. East Bladen ace Jake Futtrell struckout 12 batters in a 3-hit shutout in the opening round of the tournament. Senior Lee Barnes had the decisive swing in the second inning to help the hometown Eagles get Davion Lewis and Jayce Hatcher across the plate to seal the victory.

Western Harrnett didn’t get their first hit until the 4th inning after Futtrell struckout the first 11 batters he faced. Hatcher led East Bladen in slugging with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate, while Jmarius Smith, Barnes, and Lewis had a hit apiece. East Bladen improves their overall record to 7-5 and they’ll play the Triton Titans for their next game.

WACCAMAW RESULTS FROM 03/25-03/29:

Whiteville(8-1, 4-0) 3, West Columbus(5-6, 2-2) 0

East Bladen(7-5, 5-1) 6, Pender(1-7, 0-5) 2

South Columbus(7-3, 4-2) 11, East Columbus(4-4, 2-3)

Heide Trask(2-6, 0-5) 6, Lumberton(6-5, 5-2) 5

WEST BLADEN

HOPE MILLS-The South Columbus Stallions defeated the West Bladen Knights for a 10-3 victory in the South View High Invitational on Saturday night. South Columbus junior Walker Sullivan went 3-for-3 at the plate and was responsible for three RBI’s to lead his team in slugging. The Knights began the first inning with a 1-0 lead after Jordan Hester smacked an RBI-double to bring home Ashton Davis.

The Stallions were able to draw the game on a Sullivan triple that brought home their first run of the evening and eventually took the lead a few moments later with a sac-fly to get Sullivan across. West Bladen failed to answer at their next at-bat and their opponents took the opportunity to stretch their lead. South Columbus scored five runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to widen the gap to 8-3.

Sophomore Joshua Dawson led the Knights in slugging with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and he was responsible for an RBI. West Bladen’s overall record moves to 4-6 and they’ll go against Overhills on Monday for their next game in the invitational.

SAC 6 RESULTS FROM 03/25-03/29:

St. Pauls(4-6, 1-0) 2, Red Springs(5-6, 0-1) 1

Midway(8-3, 1-0) 8, Fairmont(4-8, 0-1) 3