North Lenoir Outlasts South Lenoir 4-2 in Rivalry Showdown Behind Garrett Byrd’s Arm and Late-Inning Heroics
LA GRANGE — When North Lenoir and South Lenoir square off on the diamond, it’s more than a baseball game — it’s the most anticipated rivalry in Lenoir County. And Friday night’s chapter didn’t disappoint.
Behind a composed pitching performance from Winthrop commit Garrett Byrd and a clutch bases-loaded hit from Aiden Clark, the North Lenoir Hawks edged past the South Lenoir Blue Devils 4-2 in a tightly contested battle that lived up to the hype.
“We are playing as a team,” said Carter Chadwick. “We win as a team.”
The first five innings were every bit the pitcher’s duel fans expected, with both teams sending out their senior aces in a scoreless stalemate. Byrd, known for his poise and power, delivered six strong innings, allowing just four hits, three walks, and striking out eight. On the other side, South Lenoir’s Matthew Rhodes went the distance, tossing all seven innings with grit, giving up six hits, four earned runs, three walks, and recording seven strikeouts.
“Every time he touches the rubber, we know we’ve got a chance to win,” South Lenoir head coach Paul Novicki said about Rhodes. “He’s going to grind every time. We can’t ask for any more than what he gave us.”
Rhodes held firm for five innings, matching Byrd pitch for pitch. But North Lenoir’s offense broke through late. After Carter Chadwick laced a double into right-center to spark the rally, Brayden Pridgen drove him in with an RBI single, breaking the deadlock. Pridgen finished 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
“I was thinking, ‘I’m ready to score.’ That was all I was thinking,” Chadwick said of his double. “Blayden knocked me in — I was rolling. I was ready to score.”
Then came the knockout punch. With the bases loaded and momentum swinging, Aiden Clark delivered the biggest blow of the night — a sharp single that drove in three runs and gave the Hawks the cushion they needed.
“Something small goes wrong, and the next guy is there to pick him up,” said North Lenoir head coach Cam Sherrer. “That’s been everything we’ve talked about all year — they’re playing behind each other.”
Offensively, Byrd helped his own cause, going 2-for-3 at the plate — the only Hawk with multiple hits. Chadwick’s timely double and Clark’s three-RBI single proved the difference.
Despite trailing late, South Lenoir never stopped pressing. The Blue Devils had baserunners in every inning except one, but couldn’t find the breakthrough hit.
“We didn’t quit,” said Novicki. “North Lenoir did what they needed to do — they executed. We had one 1-2-3 inning the whole game, we just couldn’t get that big hit.”
Austin Clements led the way for South Lenoir at the plate, going 2-for-3. But the timely knocks simply didn’t come.
“The things we preach every day — they showed up today — we just didn’t execute,” Novicki added. “We’re going to go back to practice, get better, and hopefully we learn from this.”
North Lenoir’s win marked a return to form in the rivalry after South Lenoir snapped a long losing streak in last year’s 2-0 win — their first victory over the Hawks since 2016. But history swung back in North Lenoir’s favor, as the Hawks improved to 20-2 against the Blue Devils in their last 22 meetings.
“We’re hitting balls hard right at guys,” Sherrer said. “We’re just sticking to the process and the same approach. They’re going to fall — you just find ways, and that’s what we did today.”
The rivalry remains as heated and meaningful as ever, with many of the players on both sides having grown up together — friends off the field, but fierce competitors between the lines. Last year, they split the series 1-1. This season, North Lenoir has the upper hand, and a performance that shows why they’ll continue to be a team to watch.
And as for Byrd’s performance?
“He did a great job,” said Sherrer simply.
As the crowd cleared and the energy settled, one thing was certain: this wasn’t just a win. It was a rivalry statement — and a reminder that in Lenoir County, bragging rights are earned, not given.
