By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

VANCLEAVE — Vancleave’s first home baseball game of the year Friday was an afternoon delight.
The Bulldogs knocked off St. Martin 10-0 in six innings in their annual Student Appreciation affair. Students who wanted to attend the contest were released a little early so they could attend the 2 p.m., home-opener.
The Bulldogs busted open a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth frame as they plated nine runs turning an early pitcher’s duel into a sudden 9-0 advantage.
Layton Eder delivered the first big blow in the rally, as he smacked a two-run home far over the left field wall to crack the scoreboard at 2-0. Robert Tinson added a run-scoring single a few batters later, as did Hunter Parker just minutes after that to make it 4-0.

Hunter Harper drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, before Tyler West delivered a two-run single to make it 7-0. The Bulldogs ended the uprising in the same sort of fashion as it began when Martin Shaw smashed a two-run homer to left field as well to give the home team that 9-0 lead.
In the fifth, Harper tripled high off the centerfield wall with one out, but was stranded and the game continued.
But the Bulldogs managed to end the proceedings an inning early an inning later on a Yellow Jacket error to make it 10-0.
West picked up the win, as he scattered just a pair of singles in five frames of work. The Bulldogs moved to 2-1 with the win.

Harper collected a triple and a double on the day for VHS, while he, Tinson and Eder each posted a pair of hits each in the 12-hit winning attack. Shaw led the hit parade with a game-high three hits.
Lincoln Hust started and took the loss for the Yellow Jackets, who fell to 1-3 overall with the loss.
Vancleave remains at home to host Forrest County AHS Saturday afternoon, while St. Martin travels to Baker High just outside of Mobile, Ala., Monday night.

The Bulldogs came in to Friday’s home opener on the young campaign coming off a big 13-3 road win over St. Stanislaus Tuesday night. Martin Shaw had a pair of doubles to lead VHS at the plate, while Tyler West and Hunter Harper each had a double as well. Both Harper and West drove in a pair of runs apiece in the winning effort.
Hunter Parker picked up the pitching win.