DEKALB JUNCTION — The Heuvelton Bulldogs have been on a tear in NAC West baseball this season, but Thursday marked a milestone: they finally opened a two-game lead in the pennant race by defeating Hermon-DeKalb 8-3. The win capped a day of standout pitching performances across the conference, with Madrid-Waddington edging Morristown 7-4 and Edwards-Knox trimming Lisbon 5-1.
In the marquee matchup, Jude Spooner fanned 10 batters over 5⅓ innings, and Larry Young closed the door for Heuvelton. The Bulldogs swiped 13 bases to maximize their nine-hit attack against H-D's Owen Clifford and Noah MacDonald, who combined for 11 strikeouts. Levi Biller smashed two doubles, while Larry Young, Parker Felt, and Spooner each collected two singles. Lyshan Young added a single. For Hermon-DeKalb, Jon teReile singled twice, MacDonald doubled, and Noah Friot and Jacob Whitford each singled.
Madrid-Waddington rallied for five runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to top Morristown 7-4. Logan Kingston went the distance, striking out 10, while Kylar Kirby fanned 12 in a no-decision for the Green Rockets. Bear Wilson starred for M-W with a single, triple, two RBIs, and a steal of home in the fifth. Kingston doubled and singled, Kolby Todd tripled and singled, and Ben Weaver singled. Ethan Simmons singled twice, Craig Simmons drove in a run, and Sawyer Belisle and Damian Holister-Young each singled.
Edwards-Knox's Cole Jamieson tossed a no-hitter in a 5-1 win over Lisbon, with Gabe Smith allowing just one hit on the mound. Greyson Knox recorded the Cougars' lone hit, while Will Pirie scored Lisbon's only run.
In softball, Hermon-DeKalb swept Lisbon in dominant fashion, winning 12-0 and 24-1. Lauren Bishop fired a perfect game in the opener, striking out eight and also doubling and singling at the plate. Payton Dusharm singled twice, while Ella Sharpe and Cadence Farrow doubled. In the nightcap, Maya Green pitched a two-hitter.
"It was great to see the girls having fun playing the game," said H-D Coach B. "I was really impressed with Lisbon's pitcher in game one. She is young but she has a ton of talent."
Morristown topped Hammond 13-6 in a rivalry game, breaking it open with an eight-run fifth inning. Brianna Livingston homered for MCS, Scarlett Ritchie tripled and singled, and Ariel Simons singled twice. Gadia Legault, winning pitcher Makia Greene, Reese Murdock, and Nadia Legault all singled. For Hammond, Shae Rosenbarker homered and singled, Sylvia Pease doubled and singled, and Grace Belknap, Wren Phalen, and Mikayla Jones each singled.