By DAN BISER

Rightfielder J.D. White drove in the game’s first three runs with a double and an inside-the-park home run and pitcher Daniel Britt threw a three-hitter while striking out 11 in the West Columbus Vikings’ 12-1 baseball victory over arch-rival Whiteville Friday at Legion Stadium.

West Columbus, which defeated the Wolfpack 12-2 a week earlier, scored eight runs in the seventh inning as it put its season record at 7-0.

Whiteville saw its record drop to 2-5.

White put West Columbus ahead to stay in the first inning when he hit a one-out double to centerfield to score Ryan McCleney.

In the third inning, White’s long drive on a 3-2 pitch to rightfield with McCleney on base fell just out of the grasp of Whiteville’s Cameron White. The WCHS senior legged it all the way around bases.

“With the extra area in the outfield in this ballpark, J.D. has the speed to make it around on a well-hit ball,” said WCHS coach Ricky Young. “That really gave us a lift.”

Whiteville junior Trey Nye held the Vikings scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings before West Columbus added a run in the sixth.

Whiteville’s lone run came in the bottom of the third inning when Ben Deans singled to right and scored on a two-out double to centerfield by Robbie Penny. The only other hit off Britt was fifth-inning single by Quan Gaddy.

West Columbus made use of four hits, three walks and three Whiteville errors to put the game well out of reach in the top of the seventh.

“We hit the ball well, ran the bases well and got the kind of pitching we’re expecting from Daniel this year,” Young said. “Most of our seniors have been playing regularly on the varsity since they were sophomores so we’re counting on our experience to do quite a bit for us this year.”

WHS coach Brett Harwood said he was disappointed with the loss but that he was encouraged by Nye’s pitching performance through the first five innings.

“Trey is starting to step up for us and he did a very good job tonight,” Harwood said. “I wish we could have made a better showing, but I think we’re going to get better. We have no choice but to get better.”

Whiteville will open Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference play on Tuesday at East Columbus while West Columbus is scheduled to open Southeastern 1A-2A Conference action Tuesday at Fairmont. Both games will begin at 5 p.m.

Britt and Andrews; Nye, Penny (6), Spivey (7) and Enzor.