McLean, Cougars top Bulldogs in second-round pitchers duel

PINETOPS — A single second-inning run doesn’t often determine the outcome of a high school baseball game. But after SouthWest Edgecombe’s Jaelyn McLean pitched a one-hitter against St. Pauls in Thursday’s 2A East second-round state playoff game, the run that the Cougars scored early was ultimately enough to beat the Bulldogs 1-0.

McLean struck out 13 batters, allowing one hit and two walks for the game’s only baserunners to shut out No. 32 St. Pauls (10-14).

“(McLean) found his breaking ball early,” St. Pauls coach Bladen Strickland said. “He has a quick arm, and he’s a solid little pitcher for a sophomore, I think he’s going to be special. Spotting up fastballs early in counts too.”

Nine of the 13 batters fanned by McLean came on a called third strike. He struck out two batters or more in five straight frames, from the second to the sixth, including all three batters he faced in the second inning.

No. 16 SouthWest Edgecombe (16-7) advanced to the third round to face the winner of Friday’s second-round game between No. 9 Seaforth and No. 25 Fairmont.

After St. Pauls’ Ethan Locklear pitched a perfect first inning for St. Pauls, SouthWest Edgecombe’s game-winning run came after Derrick Davis doubled with one out in the second; he reached third on a wild pitch, then scored on another wild pitch, which came on a third strike and also allowed the batter to reach first base.

“Two mistakes that one inning, truthfully,” Strickland said. “Playoff baseball, you’ve got to the little things right, and that’s part of being able to the the little things. But we can’t hang our heads; a lot of people didn’t expect us to be here, and if we hit the ball like I know we should’ve it would’ve been a different outcome.”

SouthWest Edgecombe would ultimately strand two baserunners in the second inning, and again left two on base in the fifth, the Cougars’ best chances to add on.

Locklear was strong on the mound for the Bulldogs, scattering five hits and allowing one run with two walks and two strikeouts in his six innings.

“Tip your cap to E,” Strickland said. “The kid is a natural-born competitor, no matter what he does. He wants to be the best at whatever he does and that’s all you can ask for. I hate he had to go out 1-0, one-hitter, I hate it for him.”

McLean faced the minimum through six innings; Jaden Parker’s fourth-inning single broke up the no-hit bid, but a caught stealing ended the inning.

The Bulldogs did have a chance in the seventh. Cameron McNeill drew a leadoff walk, and after a double play, Parker also drew a walk. But McLean struck out the next batter to end the game.

Davis was the only player on either team with multiple hits, adding a fourth-inning single to his key double for the Cougars. Logan Webb, Parker Gay and Tyson Ayers also recorded hits for SouthWest Edgecombe.

St. Pauls saw the end of its season, which was an up-and-down campaign but included plenty for the Bulldogs to be proud of, including a run to the championship game of the Robeson County Slugfest, Tuesday’s 5-4 first-round upset over No. 1 seed West Bladen and the team’s most wins in three seasons.

“They’re a bunch of competitors, they’re a bunch of fighters,” Strickland said. “When we were 1-3 we could’ve laid down. They fought, they got into double-digit wins for the first time in my career, got the most wins in three years, beat the 1 seed. We’re a 10-win team, but in reality, if you take away one play from all of our losses, we’re probably an 18-, 19-win team. That’s the type of season we had. The growth is unreal, mentally, physically, everything. I’m going to miss my seniors.”