“We’re Not Done”: South Lenoir Silences Midway Crowd in Extra-Inning Thriller
“We’re Not Done”: South Lenoir Seniors Silence Midway Crowd in Extra-Inning Thriller
NEWTON GROVE, N.C. — The jerseys weren’t coming off. Not here. Not like this.
Seven South Lenoir seniors walked into a hostile Midway jungle Thursday night and refused to let it be their final game. With their season hanging by a thread and the 2A East Regional Finals on the line, they leaned on belief, execution — and each other — to survive a 9-8 extra-inning war and force Game 3.
One swing changed it all..
Austin Clements, a sophomore stepping into a moment most kids dream about, delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth that brought home Noah Rouse and gave South Lenoir the edge they’d protect to the finish.
“I saw a fastball and I jumped on it quick,” Clements said. “I wanted to get my pitch and drive something to the outfield.”
He did — and for a moment, you could hear the silence beneath the noise.
Because Midway? It was electric. It felt like October. Every square inch of the stadium was jammed — chairs stretched across the outfield fence, bleachers filled beyond capacity. Their announcer called the game like it was WrestleMania. Every Midway single got a roaring annoying ovation. Every base hit was a body slam. It was relentless.
And along the right field fence? Dads paced like it was their name being called in the lineup. Behind the plate and up the bleachers, mommas clutched seat edges and chewed fingernails like each pitch held the season in its seams. The pressure was suffocating.
But South Lenoir didn’t blink.
“We came out swinging the bat,” head coach Paul Novicki said. “We had a great approach.”
Jake Howard — one of the program’s anchors — doubled home two runs in the first inning to kick off a four-run start. Braden Barnett followed with a 2-for-3 night, driving in three and scoring twice. Gage Howard was surgical at the plate, leading the way with a 3-for-5 effort. Reed Davis stayed hot with two hits and a run. Rouse chipped in a 1-for-3 night and scored twice.
On the mound, Matthew Rhodes, the team’s ace, battled for 5.1 innings. He struck out five and did what he’s done all year — give his team a chance.
“They got some timely hits off me,” Rhodes said. “I knew they was going to come back. I was just trying my best to get it to Braden.”
He did.
And when Barnett came in from second base to take the ball, he didn’t just pitch — he locked in.
“It’s tough in the bottom of the seventh to get those outs in elimination games,” Barnett said. “But luckily, we got out of it. That last inning, I couldn’t do what I did in the seventh and let my guys down. I had to lock in — and everything just worked out right.”
It had to, because Midway didn’t go quietly.
The Raiders cracked 17 hits, clawing all the way back from an 8-1 deficit to tie it at 8-8 in the seventh, sending their crowd into a frenzy. Carson Tew was a menace, going 4-for-4, and Midway turned up the pressure every inning late.
But South Lenoir’s dugout never lost its pulse.
“Everyone was still hyped up,” Jake Howard said about heading into the bottom of the seventh and extra innings. “No one was thinking about the season being over. Everyone had one goal — move the runner, get a hit, score him.”
They did exactly that.
And now? They’re headed home.
“It’s going to be great,” Howard said. “I know it’s going to be packed out.”
Game 3. Deep Run. One spot left for the 2A State Championship.
South Lenoir’s season could of ended Thursday night — but try telling that to a team with seven seniors who aren’t ready to give that jersey back.
Because they’re not done.
