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The Callaway baseball team got one last challenge before the playoffs start next Thursday. The Cavaliers needed all seven innings as a walk-off from Wesley Williams won it. It was a big win for the 2A Cavaliers as 4A Shaw is a two-seed in the 4A state playoffs. 

It was the Raiders that got out in front first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. The Cavaliers had a quick response and took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. 

Senior Brantin Swanson hit a two-run single to give the Cavaliers their first lead of the game. 

Callaway tacked on a run to its lead in the third inning, taking a 3-1 advantage. The Cavaliers added a fourth run in the fourth inning when senior Bryce Hubbard hit a single that drove in a run.

The Raiders came storming back late and plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game up.

This left the game perfectly poised for Williams, who delivered in a big way. With runners on the corners with two outs, he delivered a single that would make all the difference as Swanson reached home safely.

Swanson, Hubbard and Lashun Gatens all had two hits apiece to lead the Cavaliers’ offense. Williams had a hit and two RBIs.

Blake Harrington got the start on the mound for the Cavaliers and had a big day despite things getting a little away from him late. He pitched 6 ⅔ innings, striking out 12 batters while allowing five hits and three earned runs. 

Hunter Brown came into the game in relief and got the final out in the top of the seventh.

Callaway finishes the regular season with a record of 20-6. The Cavaliers will head into the playoffs playing some of their best ball of the season, having won four in a row and six of their last seven games with the lone loss coming by a single run. 

Callaway will enter the playoffs as a two-seed and will host East Jackson in the first round of the 2A state playoffs next Thursday. If the teams split Thursday’s doubleheader a winner-take-all game will be played on Friday.