Lejeune catcher Gage Quillen tags out North Duplin’s Garris Warren, who attempted to steal home on a suicide squeeze bunt during first-inning action Tuesday afternoon. Watching the play is senior Brendan Reyna. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Wesley Holmes lays down a first-inning bunt against Lejeune. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin shortstop Hunt Pate, left, tries to field a bad hop as a Lejeune runner takes second base during first-inning action. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin right-hander Esteban Santos Clark allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out seven Lejeune batters. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Pitching emerged as North Duplin’s top concern heading into the 2024 season after its top two hurlers graduated last June.
Head coach Colton Christman found his answer Tuesday afternoon.
Esteban Santos Clark and Hayden Miller combined for a two-hitter and 14 strikeouts during the Rebels’ season-opening, 17-1 thrashing of Lejeune.
Clark permitted an unearned run, one hit and retired seven Devilpups on strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of work. Miller yielded a hit, walk and logged seven strikeouts in the scorebook in 2 1/3 innings.
Gage Quillen collected both hits for Lejeune, which had just five runners reach base in the mercy-rule affair.
“We have been working to get arms in shape and get back on the field around the cold weather this winter,” Chrisman said. “These dudes are tough. We have a great group of guys that want to go out and compete together. I am excited to see this group grow this year.”
North Duplin took command during its first at-bat.
Down 1-0 after Quillen delivered his RBI single, the Rebels pressured the Devilpups’ defense with the short game during their first at-bat. A couple of quality bunts ignited a four-run surge that included a two-RBI single by returning starter Garris Warren.
Warren ended the day 2-for-3 with four RBI.
The Rebels tacked on 13 additional runs over the next three innings combined. Lejeune (0-1 overall) obliged with some infield errors and walks during that stretch.
Catcher Austin Duff (two RBI) and Wesley Holmes (two RBI) provided two hits apiece. Tanner Kornegay, Hunt Pate (RBI), Holden Williams (RBI), Noa Quintanilla (RBI), Marcellus Foust and Ben Kelly (two RBI) each contributed one hit.
North Duplin rose to 9-6 in season openers since 2010 and knocked off the Devilpups for the 10th time in their last 12 meetings.
Eight starters return off last year’s team that claimed the program’s second straight Carolina 1A regular-season and tournament championships. A “three-peat” is undoubtedly the goal this spring.
Chrisman anticipates a stronger league
“We’ve got to pitch it well, hit it well and play the glove well,” Chrisman said. “If we do that, we will have a chance to be successful. Sometimes we put too much [emphasis] into this game and forget it’s for fun. I just want my guys to go play, and look back one day and say we had a good time playing baseball.”
North Duplin (1-0) returns home Wednesday for a battle with county rival James Kenan. The Rebels have won three straight over the Tigers and own a decisive 20-4 edge in the series since 2010.
Game time is 5 p.m.
