The Magic of Walk-Offs (Written by senior baseball player, Andrew Smith)

Throughout the three years Coach Perkins has been head coach of Hampton Baseball, there has been something magical about the walk-off win at Scotty Bunton Field. In 2018, the Bulldogs pulled off a stunning, last at-bat win against the North Greene Huskies. Last season, Hampton walked-off the Avery County Vikings in 9 innings. On Friday night, the magic of the walk-off continued with a 10-9 victory over the Hancock County Indians, marking three walk-off wins in as many years for Bulldog Baseball.

The first walk-off win for Coach Perkins came on April 3, 2018, against North Greene. With the score tied at 2 and twin brother Weston Street on first, Landen Street laid down a sacrifice bunt. The Huskies' pitcher went to field the bunt, and threw the ball into the right field corner. Weston was then able to score all the way from first, and win the game 3-2.

The second walk-off of Perkins's Hampton career came on April 4, 2019, against Avery County. After seven scoreless frames, each team got a run in the eighth inning to extend the game to the ninth. It was there where the lone senior, Devin Riddle, on his birthday, entered the game to get the Dogs out of a jam. After getting two outs in the inning, but surrendering two more runs, Riddle was called upon to stop the bleeding, which he did. While Hampton trailed going to their half of the ninth, they battled to tie the game at 3. Landen Street then hit a double to bring up Riddle's spot. The coaching staff decided to leave him to hit, in case the game went to the 10th. Riddle was able to reach on a dropped third strike. Weston Street then drove in his twin brother with a base-hit to center field to win the game 4-3.

Hampton's third walk-off win in three years came on March 13, 2020. The Bulldogs got an early 5-1 lead after two innings, but credit to the Hancock County Indians for battling back to make it a 9-9 game heading to the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and second, Josh Owens came up with a single up the middle. Caleb Royston started chugging his way around third and and rouded his way to the dish. After a misdirected cutoff throw, Royston was able to score easily, and the Bulldogs won 10-9 in the first ever home game under the lights.