Freshman pitcher strikes out eight batters in first playoff win
Published 9:17 pm Monday, April 24, 2023
BROOKHAVEN — Mason White put a figurative sword back in a sheath when the final out was recorded in Brookhaven’s 3-2 win over Wayne County as he earned a save. His freshman teammate Dreamus Harron threw 6 ⅔ innings to earn his first playoff win and the first playoff win for the Ole Brook senior class.
Harron came close to pitching a complete game but was pulled in the seventh inning when he hit the 120 pitch mark. He threw 67 strikes and struckout eight batters on the mound. Only one of the two runs he gave up was earned. Harron would walk off the mound each inning and go straight to the dugout where he took a seat.
“I had to battle within myself. I found the right mindset and was able to throw strikes and kept my head right,” Harron said. “It is a routine every game. I do the same thing. I go sit down and I stay locked in. It feels good to get my first playoff win. I hope we can get another one Friday.”
Ole Brook fell behind Wayne County early in the game. The Panthers were down 1-0 in the second inning when they drew even in the game on a double from Bryson Porter. Wayne County took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning.
Brookhaven’s Walker Moak scored on a bunt single by Ben Wilson to tie the game at 2-2. Jake Meilstrup stepped up to the plate and delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in Mason White to take a 3-2 lead.
Head Coach Matt White said he wished they could have added more runs late in the game. Brookhaven had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth inning but could not scratch a run across. Ole Brook’s pitching closed out the game anyway.
“You stayed the course. We pulled together and won,” Matt White told his team after the game. “When we are together we are tough. When we play divided we aren’t as good.”
Ole Brook will return to practice tomorrow through Thursday. They travel over to Wayne County Friday to play in game two of the series. A win on Friday would send Brookhaven on to the second round.
Brookhaven needs to win Friday because Harron’s father gets married Saturday. Matt White was adamant they have to win Friday because of that wedding. Harron’s father is how he got introduced to the game.
“I started in the house hitting the ball. My dad always had baseballs around and we would throw it around and I started playing from then on,” Harron said. “I noticed how good I was at pitching this year. Coach put me in my first varsity game. I was striking out guys and I figured out how to strike out upperclassmen. Right now, I’m still working on my slider and I hope to add a cutter in the off-season.”
Curveball, changeup and fastball are other pitching weapons of choice for Harron. Matt White said Harron has played baseball since he was five or six, he is a great kid with a great family and is a, “competitor and ultimate warrior.”
Harron’s dream is to play college baseball at LSU or Vanderbilt University and then go on to the big leagues.
“Vandy has a good pitching staff and I get in there and get to work. I have loved LSU since I was young,” Harron said. “I just like the game. If there is any sport I will play in college it would be baseball.”