Senior Hayden Pope, shown earlier, improved to 6-3 with the win Thursday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Freshman Isaac Bennett hit a home run in the second inning and Triton pitchers Hayden Pope and Wyatt Avery combined for a shutout as the Hawks topped host Terry Sanford, 1-0, on Thursday night for the All American Conference baseball tournament championship.

Pope allowed one hit in five innings with two walks and two strikeouts.

Avery pitched the last two innings, allowing no hits and striking out three with two hit batters.

Ross Stevens had the only other hit for the Hawks (17-7). The Bulldogs, the AAC regular-season champion, dropped to 18-6.

“We grinded out at-bats, which is something we have been working on all year and hit some balls hard right at people,” said Triton coach Jake Willis.

Bennett was brought up from the junior varsity at spring break.

The Hawks, who have won eight straight, await the release of the brackets for the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.

Wyatt Avery finished on the mound for the Hawks in the AAC tournament championship.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)