BEAR GRASS – Herford County topped league foe First Flight to gain an appearance in the finals of the Bear Grass Easter Tournament.

The Bears used extra frames to top their Northeastern Coastal Conference rival 14-9 Monday afternoon.

HCHS opened the scoring with one run in the top of the second stanza.

Brandon Warren singled to center before Mitchell Godwin and Montario Hunter drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Warren came across on Petey Boone fielder’s choice to push the Bears ahead 1-0.

The Nighthawks responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning and led 2-1 until HCHS scored three runs in the top of the fifth frame.

Tyler Burden reached on an error to get things started and then advanced to third on a wild pitch before Marvin Harrell singled. Harrell then went to second on a Daniel Merritt sacrifice fly.

Burden scored Warren’s RBI-single to center and Harrell scored courtesy of Tyler Pryor’s single to left. Warren then scored when Mitchell Godwin reached via error to make it 4-2.

First Flight again rallied, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth to surge ahead 7-4. The Nighthawks added two more in the sixth to secure a 9-4 advantage, but HCHS stormed back in the seventh inning.

Harrell reached on an error and Merritt walked before Warren delivered a single to left to plate Harrell. After a double play, Merritt scored when Godwin reached on an error.

Godwin then raced to third when Hunter reached on an error. Petey Boone drew a walk to load the bases and Bobby Merritt had a three-run double to tie the game at 9-all.

The Bears then plated five more runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Harrell reached on an error before being erased when Merritt reached on a fielder’s choice. Warren singled to center and then both runners came home on a Pryor two-run double to right-centerfield

Pryor went to third on a Godwin single to center and then scored on a Hunter double. Godwin scored on a Boone RBI-groundout.

Hunter then scored on a wild pitch to make it 14-9.

The Nighthawks didn’t score in the bottom of the eighth, securing the win for the Bears.

Warren pitched all eight innings for the win, allowing nine runs on 13 hits and striking out six. He improved to 5-1 for the season.

The Bears also recorded 13 hits led by Warren’s four. Pryor and Hunter had two each.

“Marvin Harrell got the rallies started in both the seventh and eighth innings,” said HCHS Head Coach Chris Towell. “Bobby Merritt had a big two-out, three-run double for us in the seventh.

“We were able to put the ball in play and take advantage of their mistakes,” he added. “as long as there is an out left, we will keep fighting.”

Hertford County improved to 10-3.