South Lenoir rides Barnett’s shutout to redemption win over Greene Central
South Lenoir rides Barnett’s shutout to redemption win over Greene Central
SNOW HILL — Two years ago, South Lenoir walked off Greene Central’s field with a bitter playoff memory.
On Friday night, the Blue Devils left with redemption.
No. 9 South Lenoir went on the road and knocked off No. 8 Greene Central 2-0 in the second round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs, using a complete-game shutout from Braden Barnett and a clean defensive effort to win a postseason pitcher’s duel.
Barnett was steady from the start, allowing just four hits across seven innings while striking out three and walking one. Greene Central threatened at times, but South Lenoir never broke defensively, finishing the game without an error.
“I felt awesome,” Barnett said. “I didn’t start the year as a starter. I started my first game last week and went seven innings too. Defense stepped up tonight. They really helped a lot.”
South Lenoir struck first in the opening inning when Reed Davis singled to bring home the game’s first run. The Blue Devils added another run in the fourth, giving Barnett just enough breathing room.
Davis finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base, while Barnett added a hit and drove in a run. Noah Rouse doubled and scored, and Graham Howard and Trevor Jones each added a hit.
Greene Central started Sutton Harris, who entered the game 6-1 with a 1.50 ERA, instead of senior ace Riley Radford, who came in 5-3 with a 2.92 ERA while holding opponents to a .173 batting average. Harris battled through four innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Radford threw the final three innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.
Mason Dillon, Logan Burress, Noah Roberson and Treylan Eatmon each had one hit for Greene Central, which also turned two double plays.
South Lenoir coach Paul Novicki praised the way his team played behind Barnett.
“Defense was great,” Novicki said. “When you are playing behind him, the balls are going to come at them. He works quick and he’s a bad, bad man.”
For Barnett, the transition into a starter’s role has come quickly. But he said the workload has not bothered him.
“It’s been different,” Barnett said. “Normally I throw 30-40 pitches. I threw 70 last week. I am built for it. My adrenaline gets going and I don’t even feel that much on the mound. I like being efficient. I don’t like walking a lot of people or getting a lot of 3-2 counts.”
The win carried added weight for South Lenoir, which lost 5-0 to Greene Central two years ago in a game where costly errors helped the Rams pull away. Several current Blue Devils were part of that team.
“Great win,” Novicki said. “That was a great win. It was a redemption win from two years ago for Braden and them.”
South Lenoir now advances to face No. 1 seed Ayden-Grifton on Tuesday.
For Greene Central, the loss closes the book on another strong season, but the future remains bright in Snow Hill. The Rams return six sophomores, one junior and a talented group of freshmen that gained valuable experience this spring.
The careers of Riley Radford, Will Radford and Noah Roberson also came to an end Friday night. The senior group leaves behind a lasting legacy that includes a state championship two years ago along with countless memories for the Greene Central fan base during one of the program’s most successful stretches.
