AHOSKIE – Hertford County used four pitchers here Saturday.

The Bears used a combination of Michael Burton, Ryan Matthews, Heath Britt and Edward Joyner to pitch a four-hit shutout as the Bears claimed the inaugural Ridgecroft Baseball Classic championship with an 8-0 win over Northeast Academy.

The Bears scored their first run in the top of the first inning.

Matthews walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch to give HCHS an early 1-0 lead.

Hertford County added three in the third inning. Burton singled to center to get the inning started. Courtesy runner Jamal Lewis scored on a Britt RBI-double to right. Britt then scored when Andre Lyles reached on a two-base error.

Jacob Dunlow had an infield single before Lyles scored on a Joyner RBI-single to right, giving the Bears a 4-0 advantage.

HCHS added three more in the top of the fourth inning.

David Brackett singled to center and courtesy runner Roger Harrison stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Latrael Ashe had an infield single and stole second.

Grayson Toms then reached on a fielder’s choice when Harrison was erased at home plate.

Travis Ellis, a courtesy runner, stole second. Ashe and Ellis then scored on a Matthew two-run single to left.

Matthews advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Burton RBI-single to give the Bears a 7-0 lead.

Hertford County scored their final run of the day in the top of the sixth.

Ricky Stanley singled to center, Burton had an infield single and Britt singled to load the bases. Stanley scored when Lyles was issued a bases-loaded walk that made it 8-0.

Burton pitched three innings for the Bears. Matthews pitched two innings and Joyner and Britt tossed one inning each.

Jay Duncan pitched a complete game for Northeast.

Hertford County was led offensively by Burton with three of the team’s 11 hits. Britt had two hits. Matthews, Stanley, Dunlow, Brackett, Joyner and Ashe had one hit each.

Hunter Deloatch led Northeast with two hits. James Sykes and Duncan had the other two hits for the Eagles.