South Lenoir's Season of Firsts: A Championship Journey Rooted in Grit, Heart, and Brotherhood
Written By Trey Scott | Picture By Ricki Lane | Neuse News Sports
BURLINGTON, N.C. — The dream didn't end the way they hoped, but South Lenoir made sure it would never be forgotten.
In a season built on culture, toughness, and belief, the Blue Devils reached uncharted territory, playing for the NCHSAA 2A Baseball State Championship for the first time in program history. Though they fell in the final series to East Rutherford—a hard-fought 4-3 loss in Game One followed by an 11-0 setback in Game Two—the real story lives in what it took to get there.
This 2025 group wasn't just a good baseball team. They were a blueprint for how a small town, tight-knit squad can grow into giants.
Everything They Said They'd Be
Back in February, head coach Paul Novicki spoke with confidence and clarity.
"The expectation is what everybody else thinks—we want to win a conference championship, go deep in the playoffs, and see how far we can go," he said.
The Blue Devils did just that. They captured the East Central Conference title, bulldozed their way through the 2A East bracket, and brought the town of Deep Run all the way to Burlington.
They scored 255 runs across 27 games and held opponents to just 97, finishing the year with a .355 team batting average and a 2.42 ERA. It wasn't just the best season in South Lenoir history—it was one of the best stories in North Carolina baseball this spring.
Star Power Meets Selflessness
Senior Jacob Howard battled through preseason injuries to deliver a monster campaign, hitting .538 with 43 hits, 33 RBIs, and 3 home runs.
"I expect Jake to have a big year," Novicki said in the preseason. "He’s battling a bad ankle and a shoulder issue from basketball, but in a week or two, he should be back healthy."
He was more than that. He was dominant.
Junior Braden Barnett was the complete package, batting .455 with 35 hits, 23 RBIs, 11 doubles, and 2 triples, while also going 5-0 on the mound with a 1.43 ERA.
"The joke is we have to kick them out of the cages at night," Novicki said of Barnett and Howard. "They’re always working, and they’re both big, strong kids. They can pitch, they can hit, and they’re only going to get better."
Matthew Rhodes, the team’s workhorse, finished 8-2 with a 1.71 ERA, tossing 90 innings and racking up 95 strikeouts.
"Tadpole can pitch, man," Novicki said before the season. "He threw against the best teams in conference play. We set it up that way because he was our horse. I plan on next Friday night handing him the ball and saying, 'Go get us a win.'"
Over and over, Rhodes answered that call.
Midway Series: A Moment That Defined Them
Nothing defined this team more than the Eastern Regional Finals against Midway.
Down 0-1 in a best-of-three, facing elimination on the road against a team they’d never beaten, South Lenoir delivered the most iconic moment in school history. The fan base traveled en masse. It wasn't just a game—it was an event. A show. A wall of blue in the stands, and a storm on the field.
"We’re going to put the ball in Tadpole's hands, and we’re going to win," Novicki told his team after Game One. "He's going to do what he's been doing all year."
And that's exactly what happened. Rhodes was brilliant on the road, the bats came alive, and South Lenoir shocked Midway in back to back wins to claim the 2A East Crown.
A Team Built on Experience and Belief
"Experience can win you a ballgame or two just by having been there before," Novicki said before the season. "We’ve got guys who have been on varsity for a while and have played a lot of baseball. They know what to expect."
From Clements’s grit behind the plate to Barnett's two-way production, from Gage Howard's bat to young pieces like Reed Davis, this team was never about one guy. They embraced roles. They embraced work. And they played for each other.
"The only thing that can screw this up is if we don’t work hard," Novicki said back in February. "It’s there for the taking."
The boys from Deep Run took it as far as they possibly could.
More Than a Season. A Statement.
Seven seniors led the way, but everyone left their mark. This was a team that exited in the second round just last year. This year, they took down Northwood, Southeast Alamance, Whiteville, Bunn, and Midway. They played the game the right way. They played it their way.
They became the most accomplished South Lenoir team ever. Not just for the wins. Not just for the banners. But because they carried themselves with pride, humility, and fire.
As I write this from the heart, and cover these boys with nothing but true intentions from day one, I have hard takes over the years and I'm positive in my honest takes as well, one thing I know about this team—they were legit. They were awesome. These boys made me a fan. I am super proud of the boys from Deep Run!
