Brayden McKee takes to the mound for the Saints.
Austin Watson takes off for first base in Monday night’s opener.
Brayden McKee warms up in the bullpen for Southern Wayne.
Southern Wayne High School’s varsity baseball team claimed a well-earned victory over the visiting South View Tigers in a game defined by strong pitching, opportunistic base running, and defensive adjustments. The Saints took control early and maintained their momentum to secure the win, despite South View’s efforts to mount a comeback.
The game began with Brayden McKee on the mound for the Saints. He made an immediate impact, forcing South View’s leadoff batter into a high pop-up, which was caught with ease for the first out. Facing the next batter, McKee delivered a pitch that resulted in a strange sequence—contact was made twice, but the batter had to return to home plate. Shortly after, a hit into play was quickly handled by Hayden Waller, who made a crucial catch for the second out. The inning ended swiftly as McKee continued his strong start, keeping South View off the bases.
Southern Wayne wasted no time capitalizing on their early defensive success. Their leadoff batter, Waller, took two strikes before being hit by a pitch, reaching first base. With McKee at bat next, the Tigers’ pitcher responded with a strikeout. However, mid-pitch, Waller took advantage of South View’s inattention and stole two bases, advancing to third. The aggressive base running paid off when he successfully stole home, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.
Momentum continued as Tyler Odom stepped up, managing to reach second base with a well-placed hit. Following him, Austin Watson delivered solid contact, advancing to second while Odom moved to third. The Saints quickly extended their lead when Kaeden Hinson came to the plate. As the Tigers’ pitcher lost control, sending a wild pitch behind the umpire, Odom seized the moment to sprint home, making it 2-0. Meanwhile, Watson advanced to third.
Southern Wayne wasn’t done yet. Another missed catch allowed Watson to dash home, extending the Saints’ lead to 3-0. Hinson later earned a free walk to first, keeping the pressure on South View. The inning continued with Mason McKee delivering a strong hit, reaching first while Hinson advanced to third. However, after a couple of high hits that were caught by South View’s defense, the Saints’ rally came to an end.
Returning to the mound, McKee showcased his dominance, striking out two consecutive South View batters with precision and control. The Saints’ defense ensured that the inning ended with no runs allowed, as South View struggled to generate offensive momentum.
Southern Wayne’s offense resumed with Jayden Bond at the plate. Despite a strong effort, he struck out after three pitches. Waller followed with a short hit but sprinted to first base, narrowly beating the throw. With McKee back at bat, the Saints executed another daring base-running strategy—while McKee took two strikes, Waller stole second base. Moments later, McKee struck out, but Waller continued his aggressive running, stealing third.
The bold plays paid off when Odom stepped up and delivered a deep hit, bringing Waller home to increase the lead to 4-0. However, the Saints’ next batter, Watson, was unable to continue the rally, hitting into a well-placed catch by South View’s defense.
South View opened the third inning with a much-needed offensive spark. The first batter made solid contact, and a missed play allowed him to reach base safely. The Tigers attempted to build momentum, but Odom quickly shut down their efforts, making two consecutive outs with smart defensive plays. Outfielder Ben Hope followed suit with another critical catch, ending South View’s chance at a rally.
The Saints added to their lead in the bottom of the third. McKee sprinted home, followed by Channing Grady, who battled at the plate before earning a walk to first. The Saints continued to push forward, executing another successful steal to advance a runner. However, South View responded by tightening their defense, striking out Bond to prevent further damage.
The fourth inning saw a balanced effort from both teams. South View got a runner on base but was quickly caught attempting to steal second. A missed throw allowed another runner to advance, but Hinson made a clutch catch in midfield to end the inning.
The Saints added another run when Grady delivered a powerful hit, allowing a teammate to cross home plate. However, South View’s pitcher remained focused, making multiple attempts to keep Grady from stealing bases. The Tigers’ defense held strong, striking out Watson to end the inning with the Saints leading 5-2.
Southern Wayne turned to Bond for pitching duties, and he immediately forced a bunt attempt from South View. The umpire quickly picked up the ball and made a throw to first, securing the out. Shortly after, Waller made a strong defensive play, throwing to Odom at first for another out.
On offense, the Saints continued their push. Grady walked after a pitch nearly hit his head. However, the Tigers responded by striking out another Saints batter. Waller followed with a short hit, but South View managed to throw out Grady at second while Waller reached first. McKee then delivered a high hit, but the Tigers missed the catch, allowing McKee to reach first safely while Waller advanced to second. Despite their best efforts, Southern Wayne ended the inning without additional runs as Odom’s deep hit was caught for the final out.
South View attempted to rally, but an early misjudged catch allowed a runner to reach first. The Tigers then tried multiple steals, but Waller remained vigilant, preventing any major advances. A wild pitch sequence led to a walk, putting another runner on base. The Saints stayed composed, executing a defensive stop to prevent South View from cutting into their lead.
Entering the final inning with a firm grip on the game, Southern Wayne focused on securing the win. Hinson took the mound and wasted no time, striking out the first two batters. South View’s last hope rested in their next hitter, but Grady ended the game with a decisive catch, sealing the Saints’ victory.
Southern Wayne’s head coach Trae McKee acknowledged the team’s strong performance but noted areas for improvement.
“I felt like we pitched well, but there were some defensive mistakes. The guys were nervous at the start, but they settled in as the game went on,” the coach stated.
The Saints relied on key contributions from returning players, including Waller, McKee, Hinson, Odom, and Watson, who all played significant roles in both offense and defense. The win showcased Southern Wayne’s ability to execute timely plays and maintain composure under pressure, setting a good foundation for the rest of the season.
