East Bladen Battles Past Hobgood Charter for a 4-2 First-Round NCHSAA Baseball Playoff Win

East Bladen baseball team photo.

Elizabethtown, NC - Playoff baseball isn’t about perfection—it’s about finding a way to win. East Bladen did just that, grinding out a 4-2 victory over Hobgood Charter in the opening round of the NCHSAA 1A State Playoffs.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 12-10 on the season, keeping their postseason run alive.

Head Coach James Ben Daly was fired up after the final out but didn’t sugarcoat things.

“WOO! Good win,” Daly said. “But we have to play better—we left a lot of opportunities on the field.”

The message matched his season-long philosophy: play smart, make the routine plays, and let good baseball carry the day.

Hobgood opened the scoring in the top of the second. Luke Lanier singled to left field, scoring Landon Davis, and advanced to second on the throw. Eathan Gardner followed with a fly ball single, also to left, to bring Lanier home and make it 2-0.

East Bladen answered in the bottom of the third. Isaiah Lee popped one up but reached second on an error, allowing Zach Sholar to score. Moments later, Jayce Hatcher lined a single to center field, driving in Lee to tie the game.

The Eagles took the lead in the fifth after another Hobgood miscue. Lee, again applying pressure on the bases, came around to score when Hatcher’s pop fly was dropped.

In the sixth, Debo Lewis led off with a triple, then scored on a ground ball single to center from Sholar to cap the scoring at 4-2.

At the plate, Sholar sparked the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring once and driving in another run while also swiping two bases. Lee reached base twice, scored two runs, and made each trip around the bases count.

Hatcher came through with two singles and a pair of RBI-producing swings. Lewis added a booming triple and crossed home once. Daly, Eason, and Hargrove each added a single, while Cromartie drew a walk and executed a sacrifice to keep the pressure on Hobgood.

Defensively, the Eagles were clean and efficient. Catcher Colton Daly led the team with 10 putouts behind the plate. Isaiah Lee, playing first base, was a rock with six putouts and an assist.

Tyler Eason held down the shortstop position with two putouts of his own. In the outfield, center fielder Braylon Cromartie made two catches, including the game-ending out.

Easton Bostic showed quick reactions at third base with two assists, while second baseman Sholar chipped in an assist as well. Right fielder Andrew Musslewhite recorded a key out on a deep ball, and pitcher Debo Lewis helped his own cause with two assists.

On the mound, Debo Lewis turned in a gritty six-inning outing, scattering eight hits and giving up just two earned runs while striking out six. Hatcher closed it out with a perfect seventh, earning the save with one strikeout and no baserunners allowed.

It was a win built on hustle, patience, and timely execution—exactly what playoff baseball demands.

Now East Bladen sets its sights on the second round, where the competition stiffens but confidence continues to build.

The game will be on Friday, with the Eagles playing the winner of #11 Oxford Prep and #22 Wake Prep Academy. Those two teams play today, Wednesday, at 6pm.

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East Bladen Battles Past Hobgood Charter for a 4-2 First-Round NCHSAA Baseball Playoff Win