ENID, OK – Former East Bladen star Evan Pait was named to the NJCAA World Series All-Tournament Team after his standout performance Friday that sent his Brunswick Community College Dolphins to the championship game.
After Brunswick starting pitcher Josh McCusker developed a sore elbow 2 innings into Friday’s elimination game against East Central (Mississippi), Brunswick Coach Robbie Allen turned to Pait to replace him.
Pait had pitched 1 inning in Tuesday’s 7-2 Dolphin victory over Madison Community (Wisconsin). “We were just hoping he could come back,” Allen told the Enid News & Eagle’s Nick Friesen about Pait. “When Josh went down, we decided, ‘OK, what the heck, how do you feel?’ He said, ‘I feel OK. I don’t feel 100%.”
Allen continued, “He went out there and as he went, he got better. We played defense behind him and made some plays.”
Pait gave up a home run to Nic Arender, the 2nd batter that he faced, then shut out the Warriors the rest of the way allowing only the 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. The victory raised his record to 8-3 for the season.
Allen said Pait is the ultimate competitor. “He competes, and he has all year long. He actually touched 90 several times. He hasn’t been there yet. It has been 88 or 89 with good command, and he still had good command. It’s just awesome.”
After Brunswick took the lead with 2 runs in the sixth, Pait struck out 2 batters in the 7th, including Arender, with a runner on base. He then finished strong in the 9th striking out the final 2 batters – 1 swinging, 1 looking – to end the game.
NJCAA Division II World Series: Evan Pait Pitches Brunswick to Championship Game
About Author
