LOYD STAR — It might not have been a district game but it sure felt like one. Loyd Star earned a walk-off walk with the bases loaded to beat Enterprise in the eighth inning 2-1. 

Garrett Carwyle earned the win for Loyd Star even if Blake Thornton is the one officially credited with a win. Carwyle pitched 6.2 innings of work giving up just four hits and striking out six batters before Thornton came in and pitched 1.1 innings in relief with three strikeouts. 

He kept the game close and helped the Hornets overcome adversity with two errors resulting in a run early on in the game. 

“It was frustrating but I had to keep my mind on the strike zone,” Carwyle said. “I was just trying to keep my head in the game. It was hard keeping my head straight. I started thinking to just do better and I threw well. It feels great to get the win.” 

He said he had belief in his teammates to get the runs across the plate. The clutch at bat by Caden White got the Hornets rolling in the eighth inning. He laced a line drive down the first base line and it stayed fair for a double. 

Carwyle is a senior and said he has played baseball since he was four. He started pitching in junior high when his coach asked him if he would. Six innings of work leaves his arm a little tired but he said it is something a pitcher works through. 

Speaking of arm, his right forearm has a tattoo. One side has his favorite bible verse Colossians 3:23 and the other pays tribute to his father Corey Carwyle who died in 2015. 

“My dad was a good baseball player. We would throw the ball around and he would talk to me,” Carwyle said. “I was 12. That was about seven years ago. It was really tough.” 

He plans to get a job after graduation and is considering working on the railroad. 

Across the diamond, Kelly Burgess threw his heart out for Enterprise in the one run loss. He ran at least four foul poles with teammate Ryder Martin after the game. Burgess threw six innings of work striking out five batters and Martin threw 1.1 innings of work striking out three batters. 

Martin came into the game to pitch in the seventh inning and was consistently pumping 86mph pitches into the strike zone. He normally plays as a catcher. Burgess had a no hitter and a shutout going into the sixth inning. 

“My defense really helped me out. Without them, none of the plays would have been made. I credit my catcher too. He blocked up some balls,” Burgess said. “I didn’t feel any pressure on the mound today. I’m just a freshman and I’m having fun. My catcher and I are connected so well.” 

Burgess started playing baseball when he was five and has pitched since kids pitch. His estimate is he was nine when he started pitching. He credits God with giving him the ability and chance to pitch. 

On the mound, he thinks about throwing strikes and lets his defense play well behind him. They did a good job making just one error late into the game. Enterprise is 10-5 and is nearing district play but they have more they can accomplish. 

“We aren’t even at our full potential yet. We can be a lot better but we are a bunch of freshmen,” Burgess said. “We have a lot of potential. We have to learn to sacrifice ourselves for the team. Do it for the team. Like tonight, we needed to lay down bunts and didn’t and it hurt us.”