West Bladen Falls to Midway 7-5 in SAC 6 Battle, Eyes Redemption in Key Matchups Ahead

West Bladen baseball team photo.

Dunn, NC - In a tightly contested Southeastern Athletic Conference (SAC 6) showdown on Tuesday, West Bladen came up just short in a 7-5 loss to Midway.

The defeat dropped the Knights to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while Midway claimed the top spot in the standings with a 4-1 conference record.

But the race isn’t over yet—West Bladen has two major showdowns ahead that could shift the momentum back in their favor.

The Knights won’t have long to dwell on Tuesday’s loss. On Wednesday, they’ll travel to take on powerhouse Whiteville, who enters the matchup with an 11-1 record and a #3 ranking in the 2A East.

West Bladen currently sits just behind at #4 in the 2A East, setting up a potential playoff preview and a measuring stick moment for Coach Allen's squad.

Then on Thursday, they’ll return home to face Midway once again in a pivotal rematch. A win could pull the Knights back into a tie atop the SAC 6 standings and keep their conference title hopes alive.

On Tuesday, West Bladen came out swinging early. In the top of the first, senior Cade Allen drew a walk and later crossed home plate on a sharp line-drive single up the middle by Ashton Davis. Moments later, Tyler Lewis capitalized on a wild pitch to make it a quick 2-0 lead for the Knights.

Midway responded in the second and third innings, taking advantage of defensive miscues and timely hitting to swing the momentum. Despite the shift, West Bladen refused to fold.

Garrett Dunham anchored the lineup with patience and hustle, reaching base twice on walks and scoring a crucial run in the fifth-inning rally.

Tyler Lewis continued his hot streak at the plate, driving in a run on a fly ball single and later coming around to score. Lewis also showed his awareness on the base paths, touching home after a deep fly from JT Hepler allowed him to tag up and close the gap.

Hepler chipped in with a sac fly RBI, while Davis added another RBI to his night with his first-inning hit. Aiden Russ gave the Knights another spark, collecting a hit, drawing a walk, and scoring during the comeback attempt in the fifth.

West Bladen tied the game 5-5 midway through the fifth, showing grit and resilience. But Midway edged back ahead in the bottom half, taking advantage of two wild pitches to score what would be the game’s final runs.

On the mound, Dunham started strong, going four innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits. Though he battled through traffic on the bases, he kept West Bladen within striking distance. Ashton Davis and Hunter Hester came on in relief.

Hester turned in a lights-out performance over the final two innings, striking out five of the six batters he faced and allowing no hits.

With two high-stakes games in as many days, West Bladen’s response this week is a chance to define the trajectory of their season.

Wednesday at Whiteville is a test of state-level grit, while Thursday against Midway is a chance for SAC 6 redemption.

Either way, the Knights have plenty to play for—and the fire to make it count.

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West Bladen Falls to Midway 7-5 in SAC 6 Battle, Eyes Redemption in Key Matchups Ahead