GOOD HOPE, Ala. – After a week filled with postponements and wet weather, the Good Hope Raiders finally got the chance to host the first game of its area series against Hanceville Friday night. The Bulldogs took an early, 2-1 lead but 10 unanswered runs from the Raiders led to an 11-2 game one win for Good Hope. Carter Naramore got the start and the win on the mound after tossing a complete game for the Raiders, allowing zero earned runs on just three hits and striking out six batters.
Carter Rutherford led off the bottom of the first with a triple into deep right field and a sacrifice fly from Caden Drake a few pitches later allowed Rutherford to score and give Good Hope a 1-0 lead. Hanceville responded in the top half of the second, scoring runs on an error and a bases-loaded walk to move in front 2-1. However, it was all Raiders from that point on.
After a scoreless third inning, Good Hope took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Rutherford and Colbi Kilpatrick scored on an error. Ayden Black drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring in another run and a bases-clearing single off the bat of Owen Armstrong stretched the lead to 7-2 going into the fifth inning.
Rutherford scored on a passed ball to make it an 8-2 game in the fifth and Good Hope plated three more runs in the sixth to put things away. A single from Brylon Bates put Good Hope in front 9-2 and two more Raiders scored on an error later in the inning to put the finishing touches on an 11-2 win for Good Hope.
Rutherford finished 3-for-4 at the plate and Armstrong (one hit) led the Raiders with three RBIs. Drake (one hit) and Bates (one hit) each added an RBI and Naramore posted a pair of RBIs in the win. Hunter Black finished with a pair of hits for Hanceville and Cody Belcher added a hit and an RBI.
The Raiders and Bulldogs will meet again Saturday at Hanceville for the final two games of their area series with a playoff berth on the line starting at 2:00.
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