The Mathews Blue Devils varsity baseball team kept building momentum during the past week, showing steady improvement despite a mix of wins and losses.
On Friday, the Devils hosted the Northampton Yellow Jackets in a back-and-forth showdown. Mathews put up a season-high 12 runs, battling inning by inning as both teams traded the lead. Heading into the top of the seventh, the Devils took a one-run lead, but Northampton rallied late to steal a 16-12 victory.
Even in the loss, Mathews impressed at the plate with patience and consistency. The Devils drew 10 walks, with freshman Morgan Sterne leading the way with three and sophomore Michael Waitt adding two. With the majority of the lineup collecting hits, junior Mason Perry stood out, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs in a strong performance.
On the mound, freshman Brandon Hubbard made his return after a two-week injury absence, striking out five while allowing four earned runs over 2 2⁄3 innings. Sophomore Hunter Horsley provided a solid relief outing, tallying four strikeouts and just one earned run in 2 1/3 innings. Trey Church and Wiatt closed out the final two frames.
The Devils bounced back on Monday, traveling to West Point and earning their first win of the season with a 6-2 victory over the Pointers. Senior Aiden Calderin got the start, pitching three innings with three strikeouts, while Hubbard dominated in relief, throwing four scoreless innings and racking up seven strikeouts.
Mathews pitchers allowed just two hits across seven innings. The defense backed them up with their first error-free game of the season, highlighted by two double plays. The tone was set early with a clutch pitcher-catcher-first base double play to escape a bases-loaded scenario in the first inning.
Offensively, Sterne sparked the lineup from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Perry, along with senior Blake Hunley, added key hits, while the Devils once again showed discipline at the plate, drawing nine walks. Horsley, Hunley and Wiatt each contributed two walks.
The momentum didn’t carry into Tuesday, as Mathews fell, 10–0, at home against the King William Cavaliers. The Devils managed just two hits on the night, coming from freshman Kristopher Diggs and Church, who recorded his second ground-rule double of the season. King William’s defense proved tough, shutting down scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Diggs made his first varsity start on the mound, pitching four innings with one strikeout while facing a strong Cavaliers lineup. Church added two innings of relief, striking out three.
The Blue Devils now look ahead to Friday when they return home for Senior Night against the Middlesex Chargers. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. as Mathews aims to build momentum and celebrate its seniors.