With the season nearing its end and the Warriors in need of a few key wins to make the postseason, the Varsity baseball team took Warrior field poised and ready to work on Senior Night, Friday, April 19. Following a 16-1 victory against Manor earlier in the week, the Warriors faced the Mustangs in the second leg of the district matchup looking for another blowout victory. Following Senior Night festivities which included pictures with family, and an honorary first pitch thrown from each of the parents of senior players, in his first ever start for Varsity baseball, Walker Hensley ‘24 took the mound. Despite his limited playing time over the years, Hensley took Manor by storm, throwing a complete five-inning no-hitter to put the Warriors in prime position for a playoff push 10-0.
“It means a lot [that I got the] chance to make the most out of it and just dice up [my] opponents,” Hensley said.
Hensley got out on the right foot in his first pitching action of the season, forcing three quick outs in four batters to bring the Warriors to their first at-bats of the game. The Warriors came out firing with Jackson Gula ‘24 walking to start the series, and Lane Wood ‘24 singling to center field to give the Warriors a quick 1-0 lead through two batters. Following a slew of hits from Ridge Morgan ‘24, Justice Moore ‘26, Owen Norrell ‘24, Jake Jones ‘24, and John Ramsey ‘24, that lead only increased to a wide 5-0 margin before the third out brought them back on defense.
“I feel amazing,” Jacob Wright ‘25 said. “It was great to get [a win] for all the seniors. Those are all my best friends, so watching from the dugout is a really cool experience.”
Hensley’s success continued into the second inning, posting a three-up three-down performance and bringing the Warriors right back to offense. Morgan’s double to left-center brought the score to 8-0 and inched the Warriors closer to the 10-0 run rule after five innings. The bottom of the order did not follow the offensive success that the top found, and sent the Warriors back to the field to maintain their current shutout.
Once more, Hensley dominated the Mustangs, posting two strikeouts in another three-up three-down sequence, and earning another inning after what was just supposed to be a two-inning stint for the senior. However, the success on the offensive end did not continue, as the Warriors found themselves in their own three-batter offensive side, sending the third inning to a quick end.
The remainder of the game went like the third inning, with neither team finding overwhelming offensive success, and Hensley finding unexpected success on the mound. The run rule was put in place after five innings after the Warriors mustered up two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with hits from Jones and Norrell helping lead the charge. In his first start ever, Hensley pitched a complete shutout no-hitter leaving himself with a game to remember as he heads toward graduation and the next step of his athletic career.
“It’s awesome, man,” Norrell said. “I mean, [Hensley] is a basketball kid, but he’s out here with us every day and works just as hard as the rest of us, so it’s awesome to see him succeed.”
The Warriors will take the field again on Tuesday, April 23, against Vandegrift in a district matchup at Viper Field.
