MILLS RIVER, N.C. — To help win the Mountain 7 Conference, West Henderson senior Truitt Manuel had to first step up to close out a Wednesday night game against rival North Henderson. On Thursday, the N.C. State recruit was back on the bump to clinch the title outright.

Manuel struck out 12 batters in a 10-0 six-inning victory over the Knights. North Henderson led off the game with a single by Mason Gasperson, then didn’t get another hit until the sixth when Manuel was done for the night.

West Henderson, ranked 21st in the state and fourth in the 828 area code, will head into the playoffs at 19-4 overall (10-1 in conference).

The Falcons got off to a 6-0 lead through three innings thanks to a sac fly by Jackson Stepp and a two-RBI triple by Jackson Lyda.

West Henderson extended it to 8-0 through four innings on a Jude Lyda single. Both Lydas finished the game with two RBIs. Manuel’s RBI double in the bottom of the sixth made it 9-0, and Manuel scored on a wild pitch to end the game.

North Henderson (16-8, 8-4) got four innings from starter Stash Spear, who gave up just three earned runs as errors plagued the Knights early.

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Source: highschoolot.com