Raiders moving on

The Midway baseball team kicked off the NCHSAA State 2A Baseball tournament on Tuesday night, hoping to settle in for a long postseason run. They did indeed get the victory to advance to the second round, picking up a 5-0 victory over a scrappy Jordan-Matthews team.

Both teams were held scoreless in the first inning with each stranding runners in scoring position.

The Raiders defense handed the Jets a three up, three down in the top of the second, setting up the first runs of the game for Midway in the bottom. Wyatt Lucas started things off with a single into right field, then later moved all the way over to third on an errant pick-off attempt at first. Two batters later, Wyatt Scott grounded out to the second baseman but Lucas scored in the transaction to put Midway up 1-0. Tanner Williams drew a walk to keep things going and was scored by Christian Gainey one batter later, who sent a hard hit into center to put the Raiders up 2-0.

After another defensive third inning, the Midway added some insurance runs in the fourth, taking advantage of some Jordan-Matthews miscues to build their lead. An error helped Scott to get aboard and Tanner Williams moved both runners into scoring position on a hit into right field. Gainey delivered another fly ball to center, scoring both Scott and Williams to make it 4-0.

The Raiders served up one more run in the bottom of the sixth with Scott and Williams combining again for the score. Scott belted a triple into the outfield before Williams singled to bring in the run.

For a majority of the game, Midway’s defense splayed strong. The Jets never really got more than one or two runners on base in an inning and never moved one into scoring position.

Offensively, Williams, McLamb, and Gainey led the Raiders with two hits each. Scott, Lucas, and Carson Tew all had one hit. McLamb went the distance on the mound, getting nine strikeouts against two hits and two walks.

Midway is now 18-5 overall and advances to Friday’s second round matchup against Farmville-Central.