NILES — On May 15, Hunter Watson officially concluded his high school academic career when he walked across the stage at Tuttle High School (Okla.) and was handed his diploma.

In the 28 days since, Watson has seemingly conquered the world.

At 18-years-old, Watson is the youngest player on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ roster. A right-handed pitcher, Watson joined the team earlier this week.

His late arrival to the Mahoning Valley can certainly be regarded as an excused absence.

Just 12 hours after receiving his diploma, Watson helped lead Tuttle to the Oklahoma Class 4A state championship. Tuttle defeated Mount St. Mary 11-4 in the title game, winning its second state title in four years.

“It was a crazy, fun weekend,” Watson said. “Graduation ended around 10 o’clock that night and everyone was staying around for pictures. I kind of snuck out of there to rest up for our game the next morning.

“To go out and win it all as a senior was something else. We won it with a group of guys who have been playing together for the last eight years. We’ve had so much fun together, so many memories. Those guys mean the world to me.”

Tuttle finished with a 36-4 record – losing four straight games in a week’s span.

“I don’t know what happened, the wheels fell off in the middle of the season, but we had a come-together moment and won 16 in a row,” Watson said.

The championship moment was just the start of Watson’s already fun-filled summer. Just a few days after the title game, Watson took a five-day vacation to Mexico. While there, he learned he was named the Gatorade and MaxPreps Oklahoma Player of the Year. The award recognized Watson as the top player in the state across all divisions.

“That was special, it was as though all the hard work paid off,” Watson said. “The best thing was that I won it with all of my best friends behind me. I feel like it was a team award.”

Watson finished his senior season with a 6-0 record, with a 0.23 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.

When not pitching, Watson played first base. As a hitter, Watson batted .505 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs.

Watson’s success certainly wasn’t limited to his senior year. In fact, he was offered a scholarship and committed to the University of Oklahoma at the start of his freshman year of high school.

At the time, Watson was just transitioning from a catcher to a pitcher.

“I loved catching, and I feel like all those years as a catcher helped prepare me as a pitcher,” Watson said. “I always had a strong arm, and I started going to camps and playing in showcase tournaments as a pitcher just prior to my freshman year. I started taking pitching lessons, and it came natural to me.

“Oklahoma was one of the first schools to reach out prior to my freshman season, and a few months later I committed to OU.”

Ironically, Watson said with a laugh that his family grew up “completely loyal to Oklahoma State.”

Watson also grew up in a family filled with talented athletes. His father Kit played college baseball, while his mom Kacie played basketball at the collegiate level. Twin sister Audrey and an older sister Kia both earned college scholarships for softball.

Watson said that his first few days with the Scrappers has already added “great positive vibes” to an already memorable summer.

“I came in here and the guys welcomed me with open arms,” Watson said. “Great people, a great coaching staff and this is an awesome stadium.

“The past few weeks, and now coming here, it’s been a little overwhelming but I’m excited. Pitching in this league against some experienced and really great hitters will be a huge test.”

Watson is expected to make his first start with the team tonight when the Scrappers host West Virginia at 7 17 Credit Union Field.

FRIDAY’S GAME

Friday was Princesses and Superheroes Night at 7 17 Credit Union Field as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers hosted the West Virginia Black Bears.

Unfortunately, WV pitchers proved to be the Scrappers’ kryptonite, as the Black Bears pulled out a 10-3 win.

Six West Virginia pitchers combined to record 17 strikeouts and limit the Scrappers to just six hits. The Scrappers owned a 3-1 lead after three innings, but failed to score from that point on.

The 17 strikeouts ties an MLB Draft League record.

The Scrappers scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Carlos Sanchez and Daniel Stewart reached on back-to-back base hits. Sanchez scored on a throwing error by pitcher Tazwell Butler. Stewart crossed the plate on a double off the bat of James Whitman.

The Black Bears got a run back in the top of the second on a Grayson Fitzwater home run, his second of the season.

A Sanchez one-out single in the bottom of the third resulted in the Scrappers’ third run. After reaching first, Sanchez stole second and third base, then scored on a Bryce Hubbard base hit.

Sanchez leads the Scrappers with a .448 batting average. He also leads the team in RBIs (7) and runs scored (10).

West Virginia’s bats came alive in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. The big blow in the inning was a Jose Fernandez two-run blast over the left-field wall.

A throwing error on Scrappers pitcher Tommy Sczcepanski on a pickoff attempt gave West Virginia a 5-3 lead in the sixth.

The Black Bears tacked on five runs in the ninth to complete the scoring. The inning included five walks, three wild pitches and a pair of hit batters.

Both teams now stand at 5-5.

The Scrappers and Black Bears continue their three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m.