DUBLIN – After an annoying two-week delay primarily because of moisture from Mother Nature, the West Bladen summer baseball Knights finally opened the schedule on Monday with a double-header sweep of visiting St. Pauls.

West Bladen got out to a 4-0 lead in the opener and hung on for a 5-3 win, then earned an 8-6 win on the nightcap to start the season 2-0.

In the bottom of the first inning of Monday’s opener, Dalton Pait led off with a walk for the Knights and Logan West followed with a single up the middle ahead of a long, two-run double to center by Scott Bowen for a 2-0 lead. Bowen stole third base and came home on a wild pitch to give West Bladen a 3-0 edge. Moments later, Jonathan Robinson walked and came around to score on a groundout to give the Knights a 4-0 lead.

West Bladen added a run in the third inning and withstood a rally by the Bulldogs to take the win.

Trey Storms hurled a complete-game for West Bladen, going all five innings to earn the win.

In the second game, St. Pauls got to Knights starter Colby White for a pair of first-inning runs, but West Bladen scored four runs in the second, then added six runs in the fourth behind a bases-loaded triple off the bat of Jake Butler to dead center to all but ice the game.

The Bulldogs added four runs, but could get no closer than 8-6.

White earned the win on the hill for West Bladen, going 4.1 innings. Bowen relieved and retired the two batters he faced to earn the save.

West Bladen will travel to Lumberton on Tuesday for a double-header against the Pirates starting at 6 p.m.

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W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com