Raiders make history on senior night
Habersham Central senior outfielder Maverick Chitwood (5) beats out the throw during a baseball game between Alcovy and Habersham Central.
Habersham Central (21-8, 9-3) dominated 15-0 against Alcovy (3-18, 0-11) in a run-rule third inning on senior night at Raider Park on Wednesday, April 15. The Raiders closed the season out with the most wins ever in a regular season with 21.
“Phenomenal senior group. We’ve had a lot of great kids come through here throughout the years. This group is special for many reasons. I remember pretty much all these kids being out here at summer camp when they were eight, nine and 10 years old. Now they’re playing their last regular season home game here,” HCHS Baseball Head Coach Chris Akridge said. “A special group, a tough group and a group of winners. They’ve led our team to our program, to three consecutive record-breaking seasons in some form or fashion. You know, setting the season record for regular season wins this year, and getting to host for the first time in school history. But really, it’s about more than that. The way this group approaches every single day, is such a special legacy that they’re leaving on our program. And I’m so grateful to have been able to coach them.”
This is the first time ever for the Raiders to be the two seed, and the first time ever hosting a playoff series at Raider Park.
Habersham Central poured on seven runs in the first inning, then eight runs in the second inning. Senior pitcher Preston Erwin closed the door in the third inning.
Senior outfielder Kreed Barrett, junior infielder Micah Huff, senior infielder Hudson Gailey and sophomore catcher Chaz Johnson all had two RBIs on the night. Senior outfielder Maverick Chitwood had a great night with two hits, an RBI, walked once and scored two runs.
“It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling, but knowing that wasn’t our last game at Raider Park is something special,” Chitwood said. “The job’s not finished; we still have work to do and more goals to go accomplish.”
Senior pitcher Carter Crane won the game; In two innings pitched, Crane allowed zero hits, zero runs, walked one and struck out five.
“Proud of the way we’re executing offensively. We have put up a lot of runs here lately for various reasons. It’s kind of like I said yesterday,” Akridge said. “It’s a result of us not having changed anything. It’s just a result of them sticking with the process. I think if you contrast our first game against Madison, which was our first win of the season. You know, with the two games last week, you can see the gains that we’ve made offensively. And just so proud of our guys for that. It’s fun to score a lot of runs.”
The first round of the 5A state playoffs for Habersham Central will be a doubleheader at Raider Park on Friday, April 24.
Akridge said the opponent is to be announced.
