The Varsity Baseball team silenced a hostile crowd and capped off a dominant season with a 4-1 victory over the Episcopal Knights to claim the SPC Championship on Episcopal’s home field.
Originally scheduled for a 5 pm start, the game was delayed until 7, giving the stadium time to fill to capacity with rowdy students from both schools eager for the start of the game. The atmosphere was electric all night with cowbells ringing, chants from the student sections, and tension filling the air. Despite the noise and pressure, the Falcons remained locked in and embraced the pressure.
After a low-scoring pitchers’ duel for the first five innings, the Falcons finally broke through in the sixth, rallying for four decisive runs. The momentum-shifting inning was fueled by the team’s veteran core, who strung together patient, disciplined at-bats to spark the offense.
“They were having trouble throwing strikes, so we were just trying to be patient and force them to throw good pitches,” said junior center fielder Matthew Guyton, who played a key role in the rally.
The inning began with a sharp single to left by senior LJ Layhew, followed by gritty walks from senior Marcus Harris and Guyton to load the bases. Senior Max Roeder battled through a tough at-bat to drive in a run, setting the stage for senior Topher Carlson, who came through with a clutch single to plate the remaining runs. By the time the dust settled, Kinkaid held a comfortable three-run lead.
On the mound, Senior Jack Paris was lights out. The Texas commit went the distance, pitching all seven innings and only allowing one run.
The semifinal matchup saw the Falcons take down Houston Christian by an identical 4-1 score. Strong outings from junior Jackson Setrum and senior Isaac Ly kept the Mustangs in check, continuing the team’s trend of shutdown pitching throughout the season.
Junior pitcher Carlton Walton, a key contributor to the staff, credited their success on the mound to the team’s offseason dedication. “All the pitchers worked hard in the fall and winter to get better,” Walton said. “A lot of us gained velocity, and that helped keep games low scoring all season.”
The title caps a stellar season for the Falcons, who finished undefeated in conference play and 27-8 on the season with huge non-conference wins over elite teams such as Lutheran South (2nd in the state) and St Thomas.
This marks the fourth SPC title for Kinkaid Baseball in the last ten years, solidifying the program as one of, if not the best, in the SPC. For the seniors, many of whom have played together since middle school, the championship was the perfect ending to their high school careers.
“It was awesome finishing my career winning with my best friends,” said Chambers.
As the team dogpiled under the lights in celebration, it was clear this win was more than just a championship; years of hard work came together for a great moment.
