LAURINBURG — The Fighting Scots baseball team picked up its fifth consecutive win Saturday during the first round of the 2018 Bulldog Baseball Easter Tournament at Terry Sanford.

The Scots took on Cape Fear (6-7) in the nightcap to Saturday’s opening round beating the Colts in five innings, 12-2.

Senior Daly Marcano threw a complete game for the Scots allowing two runs off five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Marcano will be available to throw on Tuesday if the Scots make it to the championship since the team has the rest of the week off and don’t return to conference play until April 10.

The Scots have relied heavily on Marcano in their conference games after fellow senior Matthew Hyatt was lost for the season due to a shoulder injury.

The Fighting Scots offense has found its rhythm over its last five games outscoring their opponents, 63-8. On Saturday, the Scots starting nine all had at least one hit against the Colts.

Marcano and fellow senior Donovan O’Donnell and freshman Stewart Evans each had two hits and a combined four RBIs. The Scots had four doubles — O’Donnell, Zac Phillips, Marcano and Tyler Faulk — and four walks.

Cape Fear pitched by committee with three juniors — Nick Couillard, Cole Altman and Nick West — taking turns on the mound. West threw two innings allowing six runs off five hits with two errors and four strikeouts. Couillard and Altman combined for the other six runs off five hits with two errors, four walks and two strikeouts.

Southern Lee, Terry Sanford and East Bladen also picked up victories in the first round of the tournament. Due to limited availability Freedom Christian, who lost to East Bladen, 8-0, will be replaced by Catawba Bandys for the remaining two rounds.

The shuffle was the result of a late withdrawal by the Charlotte Royals, the 2016 Bulldog Easter champs, and limited availability by Freedom Christian.

The second round of action saw Jack Britt play Midway in the first game followed by Bandys and Cape Fear. Southern Lee and Terry Sanford take the field at 4 p.m. and the Scots and East Bladen end the day with the 7 p.m. game.

The championship games will be held today with the seventh place game, the losers of the Jack Britt and Midway and Bandys vs. Cape Fear games. The fifth place game will pit the loser from Southern Lee and Terry Sanford against the loser of Scotland and East Bladen.

The winners of Jack Britt and Midway and Cape Fear vs. Bandys will play in the third place game and the winners from Southern Lee/Terry Sanford and Scotland/East Bladen will play in the championship game.

Times for Tuesday’s games had not been released as of Monday afternoon.

Amber Hatten-Staley can be reached at 910-506-3170 or [email protected].

Amber Hatten-Staley | Laurinburg Exchange Fighting Scots senior Daly Marcano threw all five innings on Saturday against Cape Fear in the first round of the Bulldog Baseball Easter Invitational at Terry Sanford. The Scots defeated the Colts, 12-2 in five innings and played East Bladen on Monday in the second round.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_IMG_0262.jpgAmber Hatten-Staley | Laurinburg Exchange Fighting Scots senior Daly Marcano threw all five innings on Saturday against Cape Fear in the first round of the Bulldog Baseball Easter Invitational at Terry Sanford. The Scots defeated the Colts, 12-2 in five innings and played East Bladen on Monday in the second round.

By Amber Hatten-Staley

Sports editor

Bulldog Baseball Easter Invitational

Saturday, March 31

Game 1: Southern Lee, 3 vs Jack Britt, 0

Game 2: Midway, 1 vs Terry Sanford, 7

Game 3: Freedom Christian, 0 vs East Bladen, 8

Game 4: Scotland, 12 vs. Cape Fear, 2 (five innings)

Monday, April 2

Game 5: Jack Britt vs Midway, 10 a.m.

Game 6: Catawba Bandys vs Cape Fear, 1 p.m.

Game 7: Southern Lee vs Terry Sandford, 4 p.m.

Game 8: East Bladen vs Scotland, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 3

Game 9: 7th place game – Loser Game 5 vs Loser Game 6

Game 10: 5th place game – Loser Game 7 vs Loser Game 8

Game 11: 3rd place game – Winner Game 5 vs Winner Game 6

Game 12: Championship game – Winner Game 7 vs Winner Game 8