Predators close season with thrilling walk-off win

U15 Predators Softball: Bower Farrish, Khaleel Hassan, Xander Perry, Lucas Baldwin, Kash Morris, Lincoln Jeavons, Logan De Sousa, Charlie Gannon, Mason Shannelly, and Maddix Tavares. Absent are Greyson Bernaski and Ray Wise.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

It was a season full of progress and little moments but the Paris Predators U15 Boys Softball team finally got their big moment — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

After a slow start and months of building chemistry, the team came together in dramatic fashion in their final game of the year, defeating Lynden B 9-8 in extra innings.

Pitcher Greyson Bernaski went the distance, keeping the Lynden bats in check and relying on strong defensive support behind him. Although he didn’t pitch in the season finale, Lucas Baldwin earned credit from his coach for a solid year on the mound.

The bats came alive in the biggest moments of the season. Ray Wise electrified the crowd with an infield home run, setting the tone for the Predators’ best outing of the year. Later, with the game knotted at 8-8 heading into extras, it was Khaleel Hassan who delivered the biggest swing of all — a walk-off home run that sealed the Predators’ first thrilling victory of the season.

“There was a ton of progress from everyone on the team and overall it was an amazing season,” said head coach Alicia Hassan, who was in her first year behind the bench. “All the boys were shining by the end of the season — it was truly amazing to see.”

Hassan credited her assistant coaches, Mike Lupien and Mark Baldwin, for their support. “Mark stepped up big time to help Mike and I out as it was our first year coaching. Don’t know what we would have done without Mark to be honest,” she said.

The season may have started slowly, but the Predators ended it on a high — with a thrilling win that gave fans something to cheer about and players a memory they won’t soon forget.