The Clinton Dark Horses opened the 4A NCHSAA state playoffs Tuesday night the same way they have played much of the second half of the season: confident, composed and in control.
Behind an early offensive surge, aggressive baserunning and a steady outing on the mound, Clinton defended home field with a 7-3 victory over the Jordan-Matthews Jets in the first round of the state playoffs.
The Dark Horses wasted little time setting the tone, erupting for three runs in the bottom of the first inning before adding three more in the second to build a commanding 6-1 advantage. Clinton later added another run in the fourth inning and shut the door defensively over the final three frames to secure the postseason win.
For head coach Matthew DeLeone, the opportunity to host a playoff game was a reward earned over the course of the entire regular season.
“Oh, this feels amazing, Hennis,” DeLeone said. “It attributes to the work we’ve put in all year. The boys, I mean, it’s something you earn. A higher seed in the playoffs is what you work for all year.”
DeLeone explained that the team’s strong RPI, challenging schedule and consistent performances throughout the spring positioned Clinton to host postseason baseball.
“Obviously your RPI is going to leave you in a good spot,” he stated. “The win percentage and the toughness of schedule and all that good stuff goes into it. Overall, it’s pretty much a trophy for the regular season.”
The Dark Horses entered the playoffs riding momentum, and Tuesday’s performance only reinforced that confidence.
Clinton scored seven runs despite collecting only six hits, taking advantage of timely situational hitting, disciplined at-bats and pressure on the basepaths. Jordan-Matthews committed three errors in the contest, and the Dark Horses consistently capitalized whenever opportunities surfaced.
Senior Henry Bass delivered one of the biggest offensive performances of the night, finishing 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Bass also created problems on the bases, stealing two bags as part of Clinton’s aggressive approach.
Senior Brennon Bell also turned in a strong outing at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Roady Carter provided a spark atop the lineup and on the basepaths, scoring a team-high three runs while stealing two bases of his own.
Carson Williams added two RBIs despite being held hitless, while Tyler Hall and Josh Slater each drove in a run.
The Dark Horses totaled four stolen bases and repeatedly applied pressure throughout the evening, something that has become a defining characteristic of Clinton’s recent stretch of success.
Freshman Colby Darden got the start on the mound and delivered a poised postseason performance beyond his years. Darden tossed five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out seven batters to earn the playoff victory.
Hall later came on in relief and shut the door for Clinton, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and striking out four batters.
As the postseason intensifies, DeLeone believes Clinton is playing its most complete baseball of the season at the right time.
“We’re playing the best ball we’ve played all year,” DeLeone shared. “Right now we’re riding a six-game win streak. We’ve played really well defensively. We’ve hit the ball pretty much one through nine.”
Still, despite the momentum, the veteran coach made it clear that playoff baseball leaves little room for complacency.
“It’s gonna be who’s going to have a better night,” DeLeone remarked. “Honestly, baseball is a weird sport. Anybody can beat anybody anytime.”
That mentality has shaped Clinton’s approach throughout the season, particularly during pressure moments. According to DeLeone, the key has been keeping players grounded mentally and emotionally no matter the stakes.
“My big thing I push is to control what you can control,” DeLeone explained. “That’s effort, attitude and body language. Those are three things you can control that kind of keep you even-keeled.”
Preparedness, he added, is another major emphasis within the program.
“Being prepared to win every at-bat puts you in a good spot to win the game,” DeLeone said.
While playoff baseball naturally leads players to look at scouting reports and statistics, DeLeone tries to prevent his team from becoming overwhelmed by numbers or outside expectations.
“They do a minimal amount of scouting,” DeLeone said of his players. “Everybody can see stats. Stats are just going to tell you how the player’s done the rest of the year.”
Instead, the Clinton skipper believes mental clarity is often the difference between success and failure in baseball.
“You start looking at pitchers and seeing strikeout numbers, and automatically there’s a negative connotation in their mind,” he noted. “Clearing your mind is going to be the biggest success you can have.”
DeLeone later emphasized just how mentally demanding the sport can be compared to others.
“Football and basketball, you’ve got two or three guys that are going to do the same thing every night,” he explained. “Baseball is the hardest sport you’ll play. Just because you’re good doesn’t mean you’re going to be good every night.”
The victory advanced Clinton into the second round of the 4A NCHSAA playoffs, where the Dark Horses traveled to face North Johnston on Friday night.
A full recap of Clinton’s second-round playoff matchup against North Johnston will appear in Tuesday’s e-edition of The Sampson Independent, with an update at clintonnc.com.