LUMBERTON — With tears rolling down his face, Purnell Swett baseball coach Bryan McDonald relished a moment he knew was possible, but few others believed would happen when he arrived in Pembroke in 2012.

“We just did what a lot of people said couldn’t be done,” said McDonald, who led the Rams to an 8-5 victory over Lumberton on Friday to secure the program’s first Southeastern Conference title.

“Purnell Swett is not a pushover anymore.”

A night after earning a share of the conference championship, the Rams (15-7, 8-2 SEC) rallied from an early deficit to make sure they didn’t have to share the pedestal with Pinecrest at night’s end.

Taking advantage of five Lumberton (7-14, 4-6) errors, Purnell Swett got timely hits — including some bunt singles — and used a five-run fourth inning to relieve some of the pressure.

Chay Locklear logged three hits and a pair of RBIs to pace Purnell Swett at the plate, with Ethan Chavis adding two RBIs. After signing with North Carolina A&T University earlier Friday, McKinley Strickland added two hits to help the Rams earn their elusive title.

But it was senior ace Ryan Graham who, despite not having his best stuff, battled for 7 2/3 innings to earn the victory on the mound, finishing with seven strikeouts.

“You couldn’t ask for a better way to go out. … I’m speechless,” he said. “It means a lot to me. We just have to keep playing like we know we can and see what happens.”

McDonald praised Graham and fellow senior Bladen Strickland for stepping up after the team lost would-be ace and catcher Lucas Oxendine to a season-ending injury before the year began.

“The program took a major blow this winter. … hats off to Bladen Strickland for going behind the plate and being great for us,” McDonald said. “And take your hat off to Ryan Graham, who got eight wins on the mound for us this year.”

McDonald’s farewell tour will continue at the conference tournament next week and follow with another berth in the NCHSAA 4-A state playoffs.

But for now, the Rams coach is enjoying the moment — and he has a fresh gash on his leg to prove it. The wound came as a result of joining the dogpile with his players after Friday’s victory.

It will no doubt leave a mark, but McDonald is more concerned with the mark his team made with the program-defining victory.

“Everybody knows I’m retiring. I can go into my retirement years with some great memories and an accomplishment that the school’s never had,” he said.

“I want them to hang a great, big banner. I want them to put up a great, big picture. I want people to talk about the 2017 team for years to come. And I think they will be.”

Rodd Baxley | The Robesonian The Purnell Swett baseball team earned an 8-5 victory over Lumberton on Friday to claim its first Southeastern Conference title in program history.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_rsz_swett_champ201742822532470.jpgRodd Baxley | The Robesonian The Purnell Swett baseball team earned an 8-5 victory over Lumberton on Friday to claim its first Southeastern Conference title in program history.
Purnell Swett makes history in 8-5 win over Lumberton

By Rodd Baxley

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Rodd Baxley can be reached at 910-416-5182. Follow him on Twitter @RoddBaxley.