Baseball Lights up the Season

5/15/2026

Dennis Knight Savannah Morning News

A memorable season for the Benedictine baseball season came to an end on Thursday night in a fashion that has come to characterize Coach Jason Pascual's squad — with his team battling until the final out was recorded.

North Oconee, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A, swept the host Cadets — taking the first game 6-2 and edging BC 2-1 in a second-game that came down to the wire.

BC's Joiner Uhrich kept the Cadets hopes alive in the top of the seventh when he lined a one-out single to right center. With two outs, junior Omari Burse had an infield single as Uhrich advanced to to third with the tying run. But North Oconee's Patrick Hassan came in to relieve Davis Roberson and retired the only batter he faced, fanning Cadet sophomore Noah Harris, who was thrown out at first to end the game.

Benedictine finished the season with a 31-8 record and reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2022, when Justin Thomas, now playing in the Houston Astros organization, led the way.
North Oconee improved to 30-6 on the season and the Titans will face Kell (25-15) in a series starting with a double-header on Friday, May 22nd at a site to be announced. The Titans will be looking for the third state crown in school history — they won Class 4A crowns in 2022 and 2023.

The Cadets were coming off a remarkable come-from-behind win in Game 3 of a quarterfinal matchup with visiting Cambridge. BC trailed 8-1 in that game, and rallied to win 10-9 in eight innings as Burse went 3 for 5 with a pair of homers, four runs and five RBIs, while earning the win with six innings of stellar relief.

In his third year leading the program, Pascual was emotional after the loss, but able to reflect on the great season his squad put together.

"If you would have told us that we'd have a chance to play in the state Class 4A state semifinals at the beginning of the year, I would have taken it," Pascual said. "These guys have worked so hard — they are relentless and care a lot for one another. They have no reason to hold their heads down after the season we have had. I know it's tough for the seniors, because this is the end of a chapter for them. But I'm so proud of how they stuck it out and saw things through. For them to go 31-8 and win the region — they have raised the bar for the next group of Cadets who come through."

In the second game against North Oconee, BC senior Mason O'Neil, who has signed to play at Flagler College, showed the kind of heart that has defined the Cadets this year. The lefty ran into some trouble in the bottom of the second when he walked in a run and saw another score on an error. But he beared down and pitched an excellent game. O'Neil threw a complete game, striking out seven over six innings, while allowing six hits and five walks.
North Oconee starter Davis Robinson pitched a gem, fanning nine batters over 6 2/3 innings as he allowed six hits and four walks with the one earned run.

BC's junior first baseman Kai Hernandez-Gambill ripped an RBI double down the right field line in the top of the fourth to drive in Karson Wheeless with the Cadets lone run of the game.

In the first game, Benedictine senior Jadon Muller had a solo shot to left in the bottom of the fourth that put BC up 2-1. But North Oconee catcher Landyn Dykes, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior who has signed with Cincinnati, hit a two-run blast off BC starter Colvin Proto, to ignite a four-run sixth inning that led to the Titans win. Wyatt Bull earned the win for the Titans in the first game, striking out seven over six innings while allowing eight hits and the two runs.

The Cadets graduate a group of seniors led by O'Neil, who is headed to play at Flagler College, along with Proto, who has signed with Marion Military Institute and catcher Mason Diamond, a team leader headed to play at South Georgia State College.

"After the last out, it was kind of like a reflection of my last four years here," Diamond said. "It was pretty surreal. It was big coming from the bottom last year (when the team finished with a 15-17 record) to make a huge step up and reach the state semifinals this season. I think we played more together as a team this year and had a lot more energy in the dugout — that was the biggest part of our improvement."
The Cadets will miss their senior class, but there is a lot of talent returning. The starting infield in the second game featured Elliott Zeigler, a sophomore at third base, with the junior Burse, who has committed to Alabama Birmingham, a short. Sophomore Noah Harris had a breakout season at second base, with junior Hernandez-Gambill excelling in the field and at the plate as the Cadet first baseman.
"We knew what was on the line in this series and we gave it all we had and played our hearts out," Hernandez-Gambill said. "I think this loss is going to make everyone even more hungry next year. Even though we didn't get what we wanted today, we're going to come back next season looking to win everything."

Back

Baseball Lights up the Season

Benedictine Military School