BOURNE, Mass. — Whenever Braden Holcomb (Vanderbilt) steps into the batter’s box in a big moment, he looks at his left arm.

Inked onto it is a tattoo that reads “Pressure is a Privilege.” It’s a reminder. Mentality. Mindset. Whatever you want to call it, it serves a purpose — one that’s worked out quite well for Holcomb in situations that bring on the pressure.

On May 4, he walked it off with a two-run home run against Alabama to win the series. Four days later, he cleared the fence again to seal the deal against Kentucky. In a Sunday matchup where he was suited up as a Bourne Brave, he did it again.

“I have a tattoo on my left arm. It says ‘Pressure is a Privilege,’” Holcomb said. “I like to look at that, and it helps. It reminds me that even in pressure-packed moments like this, that it's just a blessing to be out here, no matter what.”

Holcomb stepped into the batter’s box with the game against the Cotuit Kettleers knotted at four. He had the speedster in Jon LeGrande (St. John’s) representing the winning run at second base with two outs.

Holcomb settled into his stance, slightly waggled his bat in the right-handed batter’s box, and unloaded a shot to right center field. The lights for Holcomb have never been too bright at Hawkins Field in the big moment. As far as the lights at Doran Park on Sunday? They weren’t too bright either.

“It was awesome to be able to be in that spot,” Holcomb said. “It's a blessing. Get to go up there and compete, and with obviously the game on the line. I put a good swing on a good pitch.”

His rip into the outfield rolled to the wall, allowing LeGrande to cruise to home plate for the winning score. Holcomb slowed his trot down a foot past second base, flashed a big grin, and was mobbed by his teammates, who exploded from the dugout and pushed him all the way to the outfield grass in celebration.

No teammate was happier for Holcomb than Ryker Waite, who is rooming with Holcomb this summer and is his teammate at Vanderbilt. Despite Waite being pulled due to injury after an awkward slide at first base in the sixth inning, it didn’t stop him from cheering on Holcomb, who has been a huge role model for Waite at both school and on the Cape.

In fact, he grabbed the Gatorade jug alongside Kade Lewis (Wake Forest) and dumped whatever water was left in it on Holcomb during his postgame on-air interview next to the Bourne dugout.

“He's unbelievable. He's had a slow start, but the kid's incredible,” Waite said. “Just like I said last night, he's a huge mentor to me, and he really did need this. He needed this for his confidence, for the team. He's doing everything he can for the team right now. Just an unbelievable player, unbelievable person. That's all I got, I mean, just unbelievable.”

Holcomb and Waite sat next to each other on buckets flipped upside down outside the dugout pregame, dressed in their shorts and t-shirts. The morning before the game, the pair had played golf together. Standing above them, leaning against the fence, were the Braves’ field manager Scott Landers, and Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin, who had made the trip to see the Commodore contingent residing in Bourne.

Waite, Landers, and Corbin are all in Holcomb’s corner. Despite the highlight moment that sent Bourne into the win column for two days in a row, entering the contest, Holcomb had struggled at the plate. The night before the walk-off hit, Holcomb went 0-for-5 against the Chatham Anglers.

Though the production hasn't consistently been there this summer, Holcomb’s not the type of player to quit. He sat by himself on a bench outside Veterans Field before the game against Chatham and journaled. He even recently spoke to the team about needing to pick it up during the tough stretch with its two straight losses and a tie.

“I love the kid. He's a great player,” Landers said. “We're trying to work on things right now. He needed it. I thought his at-bats all day were better, getting better and better. He loves to play the game, and it's awesome to see him get the knock right there.”

>> ALSO SEE: Braves knock off Cotuit in walk-off fashion, 5-4

Holcomb is a familiar face to those who come out and support the Braves at Doran Park. It’s his second summer with the team, and he’s loved the experience. The fans that come out to support the squad love him just as much back, giving him a loud roar when his name is called on the public address.

Ups and downs. Ebbs and flows. A rollercoaster of a start. Despite the inconsistencies, Holcomb is one heck of a player, and the walk-off is hopefully a sign of things to come for him.

“I love it here. I have a blast,” Holcomb said. “Coach Landers is awesome. Get to come out here with a new group of guys, and we love to come out here and compete with each other and just have fun and get better every day.”

Follow Lyle on X, @lalenstein. Feature photo by Isabel Swindall. Follow her on Instagram, @iswindall.jpg.