The 2023 Mathews High School varsity baseball season came to an end last week, as the Blue Devils fell to the Red Devils of Lancaster in the Class 1 Region A VHSL playoffs. Last Thursday’s game was held at the Dream Fields complex in Lancaster, with the Red Devils coming out on top, 19-9, in a five-inning game.
Dawson Adams started the game on the mound for MHS and was the losing pitcher. After scoring three runs in the first inning, Lancaster opened the floodgates in the third inning with 12 more runs. Adams left that inning with an injury, and Thomas Hubbard came on in relief.
Mathews scored three runs in the top of the first and six more in the fifth inning. Adams went 1-for-1 at the plate with an RBI and scoring a run. Hubbard was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Other offensive standouts included Aidan West (1-for-3, scoring one run), Noah Wright (1-for-3, scoring two runs), Colin Moore (1-for-2, scored a run and one RBI), Danny Hogge (1-for-3, scored a run and one RBI) and Bryce West (1-for-3, double and two RBIs).
Mathews ended the season with an 8-10 record. It was a very challenging season, according to head coach Al DeWitt, with a combination of youth, limited roster (10 players) and injuries all contributing to the overall record.
The Blue Devils did stay competitive in most of the games the team lost; usually there was one inning during the game where errors and inexperience led to multiple runs being scored, DeWitt said.
MHS will be losing only four players to graduation—seniors Dawson Adams, Thomas Hubbard, Aidan West and Ethan Hudgins—with six returning next season.
“Hopefully we will have a larger turnout on both JV and varsity next spring,” DeWitt said. “We need numbers and a more competitive roster to improve individually and as a team. We have athletes in the school system that can play baseball and play multiple sports. We need more involvement.”
DeWitt went on to thank Donna Adams for handling the Game Changer stats and Richard Hogge for keeping the scorebook, as well as his assistant coaches—Wes Griffith, Marty Broaddus and Terry Emerson—for all their effort and commitment throughout the season.