St. John’s Country Day Celebrates Senior Night Shutout

The St. John’s Country Day Spartans celebrated a big senior class on Tuesday. *Photo from @St.John’sCountryDaySchool.

The St. John’s Country Day Spartan Class of 2024 baseball players have certainly seen their share of exciting moments during their high school careers. On Tuesday, this group of 10 special players saluted those memories as they were honored goodbye in a grand Senior Night celebration. They then added on another chapter with a tight and competitive battle, before breaking out late for a 4-0 victory over the Yulee Hornets.

The ten seniors are James Gilson, Collin Briggs, Kyle Bolston, Jack Ensell, Schuyler Sandford, Seth Alford, Connor O’Steen, Trevor Bradley, Kolt Myers and Kody Daneault.

The Spartans improved to 15-5 on the season. It was their first action since competing in the esteemed National High School Invitational, at the National Spring Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

The Spartans, just prior to departing for the NHSI in North Carolina. *Photo from @St.John’sCountryDaySchool.

The past four seasons have created many historic moments for the baseball program, and this senior class has played a huge role. Four of the ten seniors have played in two state Final Fours, both in 2021 and last season in 2023, and they also competed in the NHSI twice by also going in 2022. The program has earned its recognition as one of the top contenders in the state, with quality, fundamental baseball.

It was that same quality of play that led to victory on Tuesday.

St. John’s Country Day scored all its runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break the scoreless battle, and the seniors got it started. Seth Alford led off with a walk, and James Gilson jumped on a 1-1 pitch and lined it to left for an RBI double that accounted for the deciding run. Sophomore Hunter Rodgers then drove Gilson home with an RBI single to right, and junior T.J. Sunderhaus came on to run the bases for Rodgers. But instead Sunderhaus was able to trot around the bags, as freshman Preston Cole slugged a two-run home run to right.

It was very impressive work done to decorate the baseball field for Senior Night. *Photo from @St.John’sCountryDaySchool.

Junior left-hander Austin Stratman earned the win on the mound with another dominant performance. The southpaw did not allow any hits in five-and-two-third innings of work, while allowing three walks and striking out eight.

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