Cool-hand Luke delivers Whiteville past East Rutherford in G1 of 3A championship series

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — Whiteville freshman pitcher Luke McLean made the most of his slender frame, proving to be more than East Rutherford's batters could handle in Holly Springs on Wednesday.

Even after a 50-minute weather delay, McLean seemed to come back stronger, leading the way for a 4-1 win for the Wolfpack in the first game of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A baseball state championship series.

“It was just keeping focus all game, even with the rain delay. It was keeping it the same all seven innings,” McLean said. “Going all seven innings. That’s what we’ve been saying all season.”

The teams meet for game two Thursday at 2 p.m. at Holly Springs’ North Main Athletic Complex.

Whiteville is on the doorstep of its 10th state title, and its first since 2018.

“It’s just like the people we’ve watched all the time growing up. Seeing them win, all you want to do is be there, and now you’re here,” McLean said. “They threw their most at us today. We’ve got to stay consistent.”

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East Rutherford needs to sweep Thursday’s contest to repeat as state champions. Whiteville coach Connor Grainger knows the Wolfpack need to be wary of letting off the gas; he has seen it happen first-hand as a player.

“East Rutherford was here and won it last year, and not just last year, but they are a really good program in general. They understand that it’s a series for a reason,” Grainger said. “We’ve got to understand that we are one game closer, but we’ve got to show up as soon as we leave it. It starts with how we go to the hotel room and how we walk through the gate tomorrow. We’ve got to stay focused.”

McLean pitched seven innings and allowed four East Rutherford hits, while he sprinkled in nine strikeouts. It was his first seven-inning outing of the season.

• View Photos: Whiteville vs. East Rutherford, Game 1 (May 27, 2026). HSOT Insiders can download championship photos for free. Here's how.

“What you saw tonight is what he’s done all year long. He’s a freshman, but he plays wiser than he is,” Grainger said. “I feel like a lot of people now get caught up in radar guns. They like to see it light up a little bit, and everybody does, but he does a good job of pitching. He locates and commands three pitches.”

Whiteville (21-7) took a 1-0 lead on a Wyatt Torelli RBI single in the top of the first.

The game was delayed for lightning in the middle of the third inning, with both teams having gone scoreless in between.

East Rutherford (24-6) struck quickly following the 50-minute delay when Brandon Pinkerton lined a triple over the center fielder’s head on the first at-bat following the delay. He crossed home later that inning on a Preston Henson sacrifice fly to tie the game.

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The Wolfpack roped two lead-off doubles in the fifth and sixth innings to build up an advantage that stood up to secure the win.

McLean sparked the inning with a double to right field, and Jake Odham followed with an RBI single to put the Wolfpack back in front. The lead was extended moments later when Torelli recorded an RBI groundout.

Ty’lae Rose brought home Jayden Todd to make it a 4-1 Whiteville advantage the following frame.

East Rutherford’s Landon Flynn and Whiteville’s Ty Mishue were honored pregame for the sportsmanship awards for their respective squads.

Box Score

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