Sawyer Sutton was the winning pitcher for Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Midway opened varsity baseball season Tuesday with a 12-6 win over visiting South Johnston.

“The guys competed really hard,” said first-year Midway coach Justin Carroll. “I think they were a little nervous, but they got over it pretty well. Usually all I ask them every day is to play as hard as they can and I think they played as hard as they could tonight.”

South Johnston coach Aaron Parnell said the offense was there, but some tough defensive innings were costly.

“I was pleased (with the hitting), especially early,” Parnell said. “We had a plan coming into it offensively and I thought they executed very well. We had a couple of innings there in the middle defensively where we kind of imploded ourselves. We didn’t handle everything around us as well as we probably should. But offensively, we scored six runs and I hope in the future we’d win with six runs.”

Senior starter Sawyer Sutton was the winning pitcher for the Raiders (1-0), yielding three earned runs on three hits, one walk and one hit batter, with seven strikeouts across three-and-one-third innings. Senior Dawson Wiggins pitched three-and-two-thirds innings of relief, giving up no earned runs on three hits, no walks and two hit batters, with five strikeouts.

A pair of juniors led Midway offensively. Nate Smith had three hits, including two triples, four RBIs and two runs scored and Caden Wilson had two hits, including a triple, three RBIs and four runs scored.

“They’re great hitters,” coach Carroll said. “They’re great kids, too. They work hard. They do everything they’re told. They practice hard.”

Sutton and Casey Culbreth each had one hit and one RBI. Jonathan Cooper had one hit and three runs scored. Colin Avery had two runs scored. Hunter Gainey scored once.

Senior Chase Carroll had one hit and two RBIs to lead the Trojans (0-1).

C.J. McQuitty had one hit, one RBI and one run scored. Jimmy Hines had one hit and one RBI. Parker Wood and A.J. Byrd each had one hit and two runs scored. Kannon Crumpler had one hit and one run scored.

Midway scored in nearly every inning: two runs in the first, three apiece in the second and third and two apiece in the fourth and sixth.

South scored two runs apiece in the first, second and sixth innings.

Midway is at home against Eastern Wayne and South Johnston is at home against rival Triton on Friday.

Nate Smith gets an RBI triple for the Raiders on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Chase Carroll gets a hit to drive in a run for South.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Kannon Crumpler gets a base hit for South Johnston.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Midway catcher Caden Wilson throws to first for an out.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)