Lowndes High pitcher James Hager (26) pitches against Valdosta High Tuesday at Bazemore Field. Hager tossed four shutout innings in a 10-7 win.

VALDOSTA — Protecting a 2-0 region record, check. Winning a fourth varsity appearance, check. Pitching against a veteran, senior counterpart, check. Pitching and winning at your crosstown rival, check.

That was what the to-do list of James Hager looked like following Lowndes’ 10-7 win against Valdosta Tuesday.

Only a sophomore, Hager (4-0) held the Wildcats’ lineup at bay, starting and picking up his fourth win of the season.

The starting pitching matchup was an interesting one from the get-go, as Hager went up against Valdosta senior pitcher Tuzer Chism.

From the start, Hager displayed the power that makes his arm special for a young starter.

“He’s a power guy,” Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw said. “He throws it pretty hard, and has a good little curve ball.”

The sophomore got the first batter, Taylor Prain, to fly out to right field, before striking out the second batter he faced, Briggs Smotherman.

After an error by the Vikings’ shortstop put runners on first and third, Hager shrugged off the nerves and struck out Galen Smith to end the inning.

For such a highly-buzzed matchup, Hager kept his calm and didn’t show nervousness of a youngster.

“I was a little bit (nervous),” Hager said. “But I was trying not to let that get to me.

“It was more like pressure, because I’ve never been in that situation.”

He handled it well, striking out three batters in the second inning, getting two ground-outs in the third, and coaxing two fly outs and a strike out in his fourth and final inning.

After his four innings of work, the Vikings were up 7-0, and were able to hold on despite a late Wildcats’ rally.

During Hager’s time on the mound, the Vikings put seven runs and nine hits on the board.

“He did a great job,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said. “He pretty much kept us in check. We weren’t able to get in a rhythm.

“He did a great job.”

Hager pitched four shutout innings, allowing three hits, while striking out six. However, the key stat to Hager’s outing was 94 pitches.

In Hager’s first three wins, he was on the field for just 14 innings, stepped up to 18 after Tuesday.

His pitch count against Valdosta was the highest he has thrown in a game so far this season. He showed that while the sophomore has a lot of upside there is still room — and time — for improvement.

“His control is getting a lot better,” Redshaw said. “He threw 94 pitches in four innings, which isn’t great, but he’s a 100 percent better pitcher than he was this time last year. But you have to remember he’s only a sophomore.”

After allowing a chance for his team to win, Hager continues to add check marks to his resume and appears to give Vikings someone to check on for the next three years.

“He’s still learning how to pitch,” Redshaw said. “But he’s getting better every time out there.”