Veterans pushes ahead with a one-run win against West Laurens

KATHLEEN, Ga. — Friday’s Veterans Warhawks (2-0) varsity baseball game was neck-and-neck until the very end, but the Warhawks finished the game with a 4-3 win against the West Laurens Raiders (1-1).

Until the bottom of the third inning, both teams were left at 0-0. Senior pitcher Noah Fries shut down the Raiders’ offense for three consecutive innings.

Unbeknownst to the Raiders, the Warhawks were about to upset that tie.

Initially, it was still doubtful that the Warhawks would pull through at the next at-bat. Freshman third baseman Owen Meredith led the Warhawks off in the third as he struck the ball into the outfield. However, he was caught out.

The first person to make it to first base was freshman left fielder Kason Flowers after a walk. While senior designated hitter Jacob Beach was up to bat, Flowers stole second base.

Beach ended with a walk, and senior second baseman Gavin Pike struck out, but that allowed both Flowers and Beach to steal another base, leaving them at third and second base respectively.

Now, it was time for the Warhawks to fly.

Junior first baseman Bryce Dryden was up next, and as the ball came across the plate he sent it into the outfield. As Dryden took off towards first base, Flowers ran home to put the Warhawks up 1-0.

Flowers was the first to cross home plate, but he wasn’t the last for Veterans.

Senior center fielder JJ Howe drove in Beach to gain another run, and junior shortstop Brandon Mercer brought Dryden across home plate to make it 3-0 Warhawks.

The Raiders’ may have conceded three runs in the bottom of the third, but they were ready to push back their next time at the plate.

Before the Warhawks secured three outs, the Raiders scored three runs. Now by the end of the fourth inning, it was a tie game again.

Even with this upset, the Warhawks did not let up.

“I just think it’s a credit to the boys. Y’know they just keep fighting and they never get down, even when the other team got a big three run inning, they just didn’t blink.” Warhawks head coach Jeff Sans recounted.

The score remained until the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Warhawks at-bat.

Halfway through the inning freshman Jackson Eaton was at-bat, with Howe waiting on third base for a chance to move ahead once more.

When hope seemed to dwindle, Eaton bunted for a suicide squeeze, giving Howe the opportunity to strike.

Howe made the final stretch across home base and pushed the score to 4-3, with a lead for the Warhawks.

Not only the audience was amazed at this play. When asked what his personal highlight of the game was, Sans recalled that play.

“The suicide squeeze that Jackson Eaton had, he’s a ninth grader, and that was a big spot. So for a ninth grader to get the game-winning RBI is pretty fun to watch,” Sans said.

The Warhawks stood tall and closed out the Raiders in their first official home game of the season.

With two wins under their belt and a whole season ahead of them, Sans wants to focus on gaining experience and winning games.

“We’re real young, so what I really want to do is gain a ton of experience and along that line, obviously, get a bunch of wins in the region and make the playoffs. That’s our goal,” Sans said.

UP NEXT

The Warhawks will take a quick road trip on Tuesday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, Feb. 22 to play Dodge County at 6:30 p.m. and West Laurens at 6 p.m. respectively. On Friday, Feb. 23 they’ll return home to play Perry at 5 p.m.

HHJ News