20 and counting: Bears advance to NW1A Championship

Mount Airy completed its season sweep of South Stokes with a 5-1 win on May 1.

The Northwest 1A Conference semifinal victory moved Mount Airy to 20-1, giving the program its first 20-win season since 1939 (via Mount Airy sports historian Doug McDaniel). Wednesday’s win was also Mount Airy’s 20th-straight after starting the season 0-1.

Brison George picked up the win on the mound by throwing five innings for Mount Airy. The senior finished with five strikeouts, five bases on balls, one hit by pitch, and one run allowed on two hits. Landon Cox had the save with four strikeouts in two innings pitched.

Six Granite Bears recorded one hit each against the Sauras: Cox, Rylan Venable, Landon Gallimore, Kamden Hawks, Cameryn Wilson and Camdyn Easter. Hawks had two of the Bears’ RBIs, and Wilson added one.

Maddox Nelson pitched five innings for the Sauras and finished with six strikeouts, two bases on balls, and five runs allowed on five hits. Alex Farris tossed one inning for South, allowed one hit and struck out one batter.

Nelson accounted for one of South Stokes’ two hits and the team’s only RBI. Reid Tilley also had one hit for South.

Mount Airy has won its last four meetings against South Stokes, giving the Bears their first such streak against the Sauras in at least 16 years (via MaxPreps). Mount Airy defeated South three times this season in addition to taking their last meeting in 2023.