Sawyer Yates struck out nine batters during Henry County’s 20-10 win over Highlands Latin on Monday, March 23.
Abby Hooven
Camden Clubb connects with a pitch during the Wildcats’ 20-10 victory over Highlands Latin on Monday night.
Abby Hooven
The Henry County baseball team took down Highlands Latin 20-10 in six innings for the team’s first win of the 2026 season on Monday, March 23.
The Wildcats earned 12 total hits, saw 10 different players score one or more runs and capitalized on six Highlands Latin errors to secure a double-digit victory in their home opener.
“The guys there towards the end started to get more confidence and going into district play, that helps a lot,” said head coach Walker Paris. “We’ve been struggling offensively, but to get the bats going here at the end is a big plus.”
Highlands Latin struck first and took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Highlanders got onto the board with an RBI single to center field after putting their first two runners on base.
Sawyer Yates stepped up to strike out his next two batters before Highlands Latin scored on a passed ball to go ahead 2-0.
During the same at-bat, Eli Pellum sent an RBI ground ball single to center field to bring in Jack Hamilton for the third run of the frame.
Yates ended the inning with another strikeout before Henry County cut into the lead in the bottom of the first.
Jaylan Hortenbury capitalized on an error by Highlands Latin for the Wildcats’ first run. With a walk and a hit by pitch, Henry County loaded the bases shortly after, and Baylor Nolin came across home on another hit by pitch to trim the lead to 3-2.
The Wildcats stood firm defensively in the top of the second, with three strikeouts from Yates and one walk allowed, before taking the lead in the bottom of the inning.
An error and a walk put runners on the corners before Hortenbury scored on a wild pitch to even the score at three all.
A pair of walks loaded the bases, and Finn Cannon gave the Wildcats a 5-3 edge with a 2-run RBI single to right field.
Camden Clubb followed with an RBI single to left field, bringing in Isaac Abney to push the margin to 6-3 after two innings.
Highlands Latin stayed within striking distance with a pair of runs in the third inning. Hamilton scored on a sacrifice fly and Nolan Smith added another run on a wild pitch during the ensuing at-bat to bring the Highlanders within one, 6-5.
Henry County’s offensive attack picked up in the bottom of the inning, though, with seven runs to boost the lead to 13-5.
After leading off with a walk Wyatt Ward stole second and eventually scored on an error by the Highlanders to kickstart the Wildcats’ scoring streak.
A walk and hit by pitch put three runners aboard, and Josef Loechle sent Abney and Nolin home with an RBI single to center field to bring the advantage to 9-5.
Highlands Latin briefly halted the momentum, but the Wildcats stayed the course to further their lead.
A fielding error by the Highlanders allowed Nick Bryan to come home for Henry County’s 10th run of the game.
During the next at-bat, Ward singled on a ground ball to short stop and an error by Highlands Latin at first base helped Loechle, Clubb and Colton Rabourn to score and extend the lead to 13-5.
The Highlanders took advantage of an errant throw by the Wildcats late in the fourth inning to score and cut the lead to 13-6, but Henry County responded well offensively to remain in control.
Two plays into the frame, Bryan launched a double deep into left field and Loechle brought him home with an RBI single to right field during the following at-bat.
Cannon added an RBI single to right field, bring in Loechle, to push the lead out to 15-6 through four innings.
Both defenses clamped down to keep the margin at nine through the fifth inning before Highlands Latin got back onto the board in the top of the sixth.
The Highlanders loaded the bases and sent two runners home with an RBI single to right field, trimming the lead to seven.
On the next play, Hamilton ripped a shot to the center right field gap to bring in Luke Hamilton and Lucas Trier and cut the advantage to 15-10.
Henry County kept battling and Ward struck out the next batter to put the Wildcats back at the plate.
Nolin led off with a single to left field and Bryan followed with another deep hit to left field for an RBI double.
Loechle reached on a fielding error to put runners on the corners before Yates sent both players home on an RBI line drive single near the left center gap.
Cannon continued to excel at the plate and blistered an RBI single near the right field line, allowing Yates to score and move the lead out to 19-10.
During the following at-bat, Clubb capped off the win with an RBI single to left field.
Bryan and Loechle paced the Wildcats with four runs each and added two hits apiece.
Cannon added a run, three hits and four RBI, Clubb earned a run, two hits and three RBI and Yates notched a run, a hit and two RBI as well.
Nolin contributed five strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched, along with three runs and a hit offensively. Yates also tallied nine strikeouts in three innings on the mound.
“Our pitching as a whole, I mean we had 15 strikeouts,” said Paris. “Between Baylor and Sawyer and a little bit of Wyatt there at the end, they held their own. They battled through some perfectly placed hits and everything, but they were able to hold their own.”