Byrnes freshman pitcher Gavin Graham wasn’t even sure he’d get a chance to play on varsity this year.
When he did make the team, Graham wasn’t confident he’d have a spot in the team’s pitching rotation.
He certainly didn’t expect his first start to be four games into the season — at the 5,250-capacity Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg.
“I started out on JV, and then I got pulled up,” said Graham. “I’m up here to fill the role they need from me right now… to be a starter.”
Graham, in his first-ever start on Tuesday night vs. Chesnee, looked far better than just a role-filler. The freshman threw a dominant five innings on the mound, allowing just one hit and striking out five Chesnee batters.
He didn’t allow a run, earning his first career win as Byrnes held off a late Eagle rally to collect a 4-3 victory.
“What Gavin did tonight was impressive,” said Byrnes head coach Taylor Hollifield. “We brought him up yesterday because we had a doubleheader. We told him he’d be getting the ball tonight, and he didn’t get bug-eyed.
“He was a fringe guy for us. We weren’t sure if he’d come up for us or if he’d be a JV player for us this season. But tonight, he showed he can compete at this level.”
For a freshman, Graham remained impressively emotionless on the mound all evening. After an inning-ending strikeout? Graham was stone-faced. When he gave up his only hit of the afternoon, his expression remained the same.
It’s a calm, collected attitude that Hollifield was impressed to see from his youngster, but not surprised by.
“He really didn’t bat an eye. For him to get his first career high-school start this early, at Fifth Third Park, he kept his cool,” said Hollifield. “Even when a guy got on, he stayed locked in. But I’m not surprised by that from him. He knew he had a job to do, and he did it.”
“Tonight felt great,” said Graham. “I had my defense making some really good plays behind me, and I just went out there and threw strikes. I thought I had good command of my breaking ball and stayed in the zone well today.”
Graham received run support from the bats of second baseman Emory Yarrell with two RBIs, along with one RBI apiece from left fielder Blake Collins and designated hitter Ayden Dempsey.
A new-look Rebels squad is now 4-0. Despite losing a class of eight seniors last season, Byrnes has put some pieces together early to propel itself to a strong start.
“With a lot of seniors gone, a lot of underclassmen have needed to step up,” said Yarrell, a junior. “Underclassmen like [sophomore] Ayden Dempsey and Gavin [Graham], who stepped up and pitched a great game for us tonight. We’ve all had to come together as a team.”
After graduating star pitcher Connor Crenshaw last season — and losing junior right-hander Hayden Lister before the season to injury — the Rebels will need as many available arms as possible on the mound.
They’ve certainly found something brewing with the freshman Graham.
“We’re kind of in the mindset right now of ‘If you can hit the strike zone, you’re going to throw some innings for us,’” said Hollifield. “Gavin was a guy who was really good for us in intersquads and leading up to the season.
“Tonight, he was who we turned to. And he certainly made a statement.”
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