A two-run base hit in the second inning from senior Colton Neighbors made the difference for Triton as the Hawks opened varsity baseball season Wednesday by taking a 2-1 win at rival South Johnston.

“It seems like regardless of the situation, every time we play it’s a battle, it’s a close game,” said Triton coach Joey Miriello. “I think last year’s team would have probably folded underneath the pressure and it probably would have ended up with us coming out on the other end. I think the difference between this year’s team compared to last year’s team is we have good senior leadership. I think they kind of mentally prepared some of these younger guys for what was to be expected tonight and I think that helped out tremendously.

“Last year we lost a lot of close games and after a while that becomes frustrating. So, for us to come out on top in a close game this early in the season, hopefully we’ll have a little momentum and build off that. And hopefully it will help us in the future.”

South Johnston coach Aaron Parnell said only a few plays made the difference.

“Everybody would like to start the season off on the winning side,” Parnell said. “But it was a well-played game on both sides. I thought Aubrey (Pollard) on the mound was as good as he can get. We had one inning where a couple of breaks went their way and one base hit kind of changed the game on that. Defensively, I think we’re there and we played very well.”

Starter Greg Godwin took the win on the mound for the Hawks (1-0). In five and one-third innings, the senior gave up one earned run on five hits, one walk and one hit batter, with four strikeouts. Junior Ethan Hedgepeth pitched one and two-thirds innings, yielding no runs on one hit and one walk, with three strikeouts.

“I was very pleased with what we did tonight on the mound,” Miriello said. “To be honest, it (pitching) still is my number one concern. It was last year and it is this year. Our pitching depth, especially with Zydarius (McDougald) being on the shelf indefinitely, is a bit of a concern. But it was big with us tonight only having to use two arms still having to play Overhills tomorrow.”

Starter Aubrey Pollard was the pitcher of record for the Trojans (0-1). In six innings, the senior yielded two earned runs on four hits, three walks and one hit batter, with five strikeouts. Junior Patrick Allen pitched one inning, giving up one hit and one walk.

Neighbors had one hit and two RBIs, Austin Riewestahl had one hit and one run scored, Godwin, Parker Crews and Keegan Blackman had one hit apiece and Christian Tyndall had one run scored for Triton.

Christian Pollard had three hits and one run scored to lead South at the plate and Allen, Jacob Norris and Ben Stafford had one hit apiece.

South Johnston was missing five players who are still playing on the basketball team in the NCHSAA 3-A state playoffs, but Parnell was pleased with the players he moved around to cover those spots, including several that came up from the junior varsity squad.

“I think we’ve got guys that can move around and guys that can play wherever they’re called,” Parnell said. “We do miss the guys that are playing basketball right now, but the guys that have slotted in and filled their spots tonight contributed. We had a JV guy (Dylan Bates) make an awesome catch over here (left field) over the fence and then has a great at-bat in the last inning to extend it. He’s playing a role right now for guys that are playing basketball and he had a great night. We definitely miss them and team chemistry-wise, we’re definitely ready for those guys to get here because they’ll contribute on the field and in the dugout and locker room.”

Triton scored both runs in the top of the second. Riewestahl singled, Tyndall was hit by a pitch and Godwin singled to load the bases. After a strikeout put the second out on the board, Neighbors singled to drive in Riewestahl and Tyndall to give Triton the 2-0 advantage.

Christian Pollard scored the lone run for South in the bottom of the fifth.

Triton is at Harnett County foe Overhills on Thursday and South Johnston is at Harnett Central on Friday.

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