Veterans secure scrimmage win in close matchup against ACE

KATHLEEN, Ga. — The Academy for Classical Education Gryphons left with a terrifying defeat this past Friday, signaling the beginning of a thriving season for the Veterans Warhawks baseball team.

Tensions soared in the first few innings as each team struggled to make a dent in the scoreboard. 

After the first inning, the Warhawks were left down 1-0, a pattern that continued for the next half of the game. 

If they wanted to win, the Warhawks would have to adjust quickly; the new season meant a fresh team fighting fresh opponents. Veterans pitching coach Tyler Kinser vocalized the changes the team underwent in preparation for the new season.

“Well, we lost a lot of guys… we have some new starters that I think are really gonna contribute for us well,” Kinser said. “We’ve developed some guys that have made us really deep on the mound, and I think that’s gonna really help us moving forward.”

Kinser was right; the brand-new team began to level the playing field.

The turnaround began when senior second baseman Gavin Pike managed Veterans’ first run during the fourth inning, stopping the teams in a tie. The first run he scored was the push the Warhawks needed. 

Even when ACE regained the offense and left the Warhawks with a 6-1 deficit, they would not be left behind.

And so, the Warhawks began to rise.

During the next at-bat, JJ Howe, Jacob Beach, Brooks Masters, and Pike crossed home base. The score stood 6-5 by the end of the fifth inning. 

These runs were crucial to the Warhawks’ eventual victory. 

“The big thing I think that helped us win the ball game is we didn’t linger there being down, we jumped right back in it and tied the ball game, and then were able to take the lead the next inning. I think if we wouldn’t have scored all those runs coming back, it would have been really really hard for us to come back and win the ball game,” Kinser stated.

ACE refused to let up either, gaining another run: a two-point lead against the Warhawks.

Despite suffering an immediate strikeout from ACE, the Warhawks prevailed. 

Junior outfielder Joshua Chavous began the march onto the field when ACE’s pitcher threw four balls, and he walked to first base. Although he unfortunately was tagged out later that inning, his steps would be true for the rest of his team as well.

Senior outfielder JJ Howe followed suit after he hit into the infield. Next came senior outfielder Jacob Breach, then finally junior shortstop Brandon Mercer.

The bases were loaded for the Warhawks, but they also had two outs. 

Now batting was junior third baseman Brooks Masters, and the aftermath of his play would determine the game’s outcome. And so, he hit, resulting in an astounding two consecutive runs for the Veterans.

Pike also hit on his next turn, and two more players made it past home base. One more run finished out the inning, leaving the Warhawks with a 9-7 lead for the first time.

However, there was one inning left.

Since ACE was batting first, there was a shadowing threat that the game might be turned around once more.

The Warhawks sent Mercer to the mound to ensure this would not happen. And so, the seventh inning began.

Unexpectedly, it finished as soon as it started.

While on the mound, Mercer forced ACE’s batters to strike out one after another until they had reached three outs, and the game was over. The score remained at 9-7 with the Warhawks in the lead.

This astounding play by Brandon Mercer marked the end of the game and the beginning of a fruitful season for the Warhawks.

UP NEXT

The Warhawks will be back in action at home on Friday, Feb. 16 as they face off against West Laurens at 6 p.m.

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