Buddy Burney, Sports Editor

Blake Sykes and Jared Carroll combined to pitch a four-hitter as the West Bladen Knights beat the East Columbus Gators 10-1 on the final; day of the Jiggs Powers Easter Baseball Tournament at West Columbus High Wednesday afternoon.

Sykes pitched three innings. He gave up two hits, walked none and struck out one. Carroll pitched the final four innings. He gave up two hits, did not allow a walk and struck out six.

East Columbus scored its lone run in the top of the first inning after Alex Williamson led off with a double and later scored on a double by Demetrius McKelvin.

Cable Andrews started on the mound for the Gators and pitched two innings. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out one. Jerry Ward relieved and pitched two innings. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out none. Houston Barnes pitched the final three innings. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out one.

Sykes led the Knights at the plate, batting 3-for-4, and Andy Coates batted 2-for-3. Jeremy Parnell, Jonathan Locklear, James Davis and Charles Poythress had one hit each.

The Knights tied the game in the bottom of the first inning after Sykes walked and scored on a single by Davis.

Four runs in the second inning gave West a 5-1 advantage and the lead for good.

James Cox was hit by a pitch and later scored on a wild pitch. Coates was hit by a pitch and Sykes followed with a single scoring both base runners. A single by Davis scored Mark Nance who was running for Sykes.

West Bladen went ahead 8-1 after scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. Coates reached on a wild pitch and Sykes singled. Both Coates and Nance, who was running for Sykes, scored on wild pitches.

West’s final two runs came in the fifth inning. Bradley Wilkins led off with a walk and Parnell was hit by a pitch. Wilkins scored on a single by Poythress and Coates followed with a single scoring Parnell.