East Bladen Edges West Columbus 4-3, Stays in the Hunt for a Top 1A Seed

East Bladen baseball team photo.

Cerro Gordo, NC - With playoff seeding implications on the line, East Bladen Baseball delivered under pressure Tuesday night, escaping Cerro Gordo with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over West Columbus.

The win lifts the Eagles to 6-7 overall and 5-4 in the Waccamaw Conference, putting them a step ahead of East Columbus in the battle for the top 1A seed from the conference.

The Eagles wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard.

In the top of the second, Debo Lewis stepped up with two runners on and delivered a clutch line drive to right field. His single plated both Aiden Hargrove and Andrew Musslewhite, giving East Bladen a quick 2-0 lead and setting the tone for the offense.

Hargrove sparked the early rally with a well-placed hit, and Musslewhite—who had himself a standout night—followed by coming around to score and then driving in another run an inning later. In the third, Musslewhite roped a double to center field, bringing home Jayce Hatcher and pushing the lead to 3-1.

Hatcher wasn't just doing damage at the plate—he also shouldered the pitching duties and delivered a gutsy complete-game performance. The sophomore right-hander went the distance, tossing seven innings while allowing only five hits.

He struck out seven and walked just one, with only one of the three West Columbus runs earned. His efforts on the mound helped the Eagles weather a late push by the Vikings and preserve the narrow lead.

In the top of the fifth, Hatcher helped his own cause yet again. With Isaiah Lee aboard after collecting one of his two hits on the night, Hatcher ripped a double that drove in what would become the game-winning run. Lee’s aggressive baserunning and consistent presence at the plate provided a spark all game long.

The Eagles’ lineup showed poise throughout the night. Colton Daly chipped in with a hit, and Tyler Eason worked a walk to help flip the lineup. Though they didn’t reach base in this one, both Zach Sholar and Easton Bostic contributed defensively to help support Hatcher’s outing.

With the win, East Bladen gains a slight edge over East Columbus (4-4 in conference) in the 1A seeding race. Every game matters down the stretch, and the Eagles are finding ways to win when it counts most.

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East Bladen Edges West Columbus 4-3, Stays in the Hunt for a Top 1A Seed