HOPEWELL TWP. — For someone like Carter Davis, a big 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher who will be taking his talents to the University of Pittsburgh to pitch once he graduates, having his senior year on the mound cut short due to an early-season injury could be a lethal gut punch for many.
But not Davis.
Instead of wallowing after an arm injury that shut the senior down on the mound and in the field one week into the season down in Florida, Davis is making the most of his opportunity and helping out where he can at the plate.
“This season has been a tough one for me, battling injuries,” Davis said. “I had to put that all behind me because everything happens for a reason. Those obstacles create opportunities and you have to make the most of everything.”
While Davis’ arm would certainly be welcomed with Blackhawk near the top of the section standings, the senior has done what he can to give the Cougars their best chance to win.
Throughout the 2026 campaign, Davis has been a force at the plate, as prior to Blackhawk’s section showdown against Hopewell on Monday, May 4, Davis has hit an even .500, collecting 21 hits, 15 RBIs, four doubles and four home runs.
The senior leads the Cougars in hits, RBIs and home runs, while ranking third on the team in doubles.
“I take things one pitch at a time and slow everything down around me,” Davis said. “If I hit the pitch, that’s great. If I don’t, I try to stay calm, not get too tense and focus on the next pitch.”
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That calm demeanor, along with an intense work ethic, was something that caught longtime Blackhawk assistant and current head coach Lou Wolber’s eyes when Davis came up to the varsity program his sophomore year.
Once the coach saw the talent he had on his hands, he knew that Davis could play at the next level, especially after watching former Blackhawk standout and former Tampa Bay Rays southpaw Brendan McKay pitch during his high school career.
“Whenever he came up to us as a sophomore, his lively arm showed me right away that if he continued on that path and worked, he could play at the next level,” Wolber said. “He gets everyone going around him and is a joy to coach.”
The leadership from Davis has helped pave the way for a Blackhawk roster to find success even without its ace on the mound.
Even with the high expectations Davis came into his senior campaign with, despite the setback of being shut down and not being able to hit the field, the senior has been a leader for the team, which is headed back to the postseason.
“For someone who has high expectations in his senior year of high school and was throwing well before the injury, having to keep your chin up after that is tough for someone that young,” Wolber said. “He has done a good job with the role he is in, taking it in stride and is a leader for the younger guys.”
With the playoffs now on the horizon and Blackhawk having a senior-heavy roster, for Davis, the sky is the limit for the team.
As the regular season comes to a close, Davis knows what’s at stake moving forward and knows that if he and his team continue to play the way that they have, Blackhawk can make a deep run.
“I am very excited to see what we can do as a team,” Davis said. “I believe that we have a shot to win it all. We are a strong group and if we keep playing together, we can make a run at it,”
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Follow him atEthanMorrison26 on X,formerly Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times:Blackhawk's Carter Davis making most of opportunity despite season-ending injury
