The Harrells Crusaders baseball team got their first conference win Tuesday, soundly beating Fayetteville academy in 5 innings, 17-2.

HCA was consistent with the bats, scoring 3 runs in the first inning; 3 in the 2nd; 5 in the third, and 6 in the 4th. FA got 2 runs in the first inning, but wasn’t able to get a runner across home plate after that.

Leading hitters for the Crusaders were Rooks Wells, who went 2-2 and scored 3 runs; Mike Smith, 3-5, 4 runs; Cory Sutton, 1-2, and hit a double; and Sam Warrick, 1-1.

Larry White was the winning pitcher. He gave up 1 hit, hit 1 batter, and had 13 strikeouts.

This was Harrells’ first conference game and their overall record moves to 2-3. They host Coastal Christian on Thursday.

Softball

Once again, the Lady Crusaders squeaked out a close one, beating South Columbus 5-4 on Monday.

S.C. jumped out to a quick lead, with the first four batters scoring 3 runs. They were effectively shut down except for one more run scored in the 3rd inning and allowing only 4 more hits.

Harrells, on the other hand, was just getting started. Cory Levings got on base with a walk in the 2nd and scored on an error when Jesse Kate Batts was at bat. The Crusaders left the bases loaded, but Abigail Blanchard started it back up in the 3rd inning with a base hit and she scored on a long fly to right center.

Daisha Jordan scored in the 5th after she walked to first and then stole 2nd and 3rd. A sacrifice by Blanchard brought Jordan home for the 3rd HCA score. The next two runs came in the 6th when Levings and Mary Grace Norris both got on with a walk and were helped around by base hits from teammates.

Batting stats showed Norris went 1-3 and scored 1 run; Jordan, 1-2, 1 run; Blanchard, 1-3, 1 run; Megan Crisafulli, 1-3; Marissa Parks 2-3; Giles 1-2.

Blanchard was on the mound for HCA. She faced 33 batters, threw 42 balls and 81 strikes. She walked 1 batter, struck out 5, allowed 7 hits, and 1 of South Columbus’ 4 runs was earned.

South Columbus’ pitcher was H. Lee and she struck out 2 batters, allowed 7 walks, 7 hits, and all 5 runs were earned.

The Lady Crusaders will travel to Halifax on Friday.