LAURINBURG — The Fighting Scots have Seventy-First’s number — plain and simple. This is the third meeting between the two teams and the Scots have outscored the Falcons 46 to two. The only two runs Seventy First managed to score on the Scots was in their meeting Saturday in the first round of the 2017 Hoyt Warren-Wayne Edwards Invitational hosted by Douglas Byrd.
It was a five-inning game as the Scots steamrolled the Falcons, 16-2 to advance to the second round of the tournament to face Freedom Christian Academy on Monday. The winner of that game would go on to play in the championship game tonight against the winner of East Bladen vs. Cape Fear.
The Scots and Cape Fear met in the championship game last year and it was the Colts that walked off the diamond victorious, 7-0. The Colts return the 6-foot-6 right-hander Gavin Williams who blanked the Scots during last year’s tournament.
Saturday’s game against the Falcons was a good program win for the team as the entire varsity roster got involved in the win. The Scots plated 16 runs off 11 hits from nine different players — Davon Ratliffe, Matthew Sellers, Grant Burleson, Storm Graham, Tripp Wells, Trey Armstrong, Donta Green, Justin Bowers and Tyler Snipes all had one hit. Junior Matthew Hyatt led the Scots with two hits on the afternoon to go along with a run and two RBIs.
The Scots that weren’t hitting the ball were still getting on base as Seventy First’s pitcher Kawika Holland pegged five batters — hitting Tyler Faulk twice.
Holland pitched three innings allowing six runs off four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Coming in to relieve him was Rashaun Hines threw one inning allowing seven runs off two hits with two walks and zero strikeouts.
The Scots scored three runs in the first inning, doubled that with six in the second before adding two more in the third. Both teams went scoreless in the fourth before the Scots closed the door in the fifth inning scoring five runs. Seventy-First scored its only two runs in the fifth inning before the game was called because of the mercy rule.
On the mound for the Scots were two unlikely throwers — Burleson and Armstrong before Green closed out the game. Burleson and Armstrong both threw two innings each while Green threw only one inning. Burleson allowed two runs off three hits with two strikeouts. Armstrong has a good showing allowing zero hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Green tossed one frame picking up one strikeout.
The Scots will be back in action tonight for the final round of the 2017 Hoyt Warren-Wayne Edwards Invitational. If they defeated Freedom Christian Academy they will play for the championship at 7 p.m. against the winner of East Bladen vs. Cape Fear. If the Scots lost Monday’s game they will play the loser of the East Bladen/Cape Fear game at 4 p.m.
The Scots will be back in action on Friday, April 21 as they travel to Hope Mills to play Jack Britt in non-conference action, first pitch for that game is 7 p.m.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.
