The number 1 Class-A Loretto Mustangs showed why they’re at the top with an impressive 5-inning 13-1 win over University School in the opening round of the TSSAA Class 1A State Tournament being played at Middle Tennessee Christian School in Murfreesboro.
The Mustangs opened the first-inning with three-runs on three hits with 2 Buccaneer errors. Ryan Weathers reaches on an error. Kendall Franklin (2-3, R,1RBI) singles to left. Franklin is caught stealing 2nd, on the play Weathers comes home giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. With 2 outs Blade Tidwell(2-3, 2R) singles on a line drive to center followed by a double off the bat of Jacob Hallmark (2-3,2R). Jason Sharpton reaches on an error by the Bucs second baseman allowing Tidwell & Hallmark to score and Loretto was up 3-0 after 1.
The top of the 2nd was an inning every coach dreams about. The Mustangs send 13 batters to the plate, pounding out 8 hits highlighted by a towering 3R home run by Ryan Weathers. In the frame Skye McNatt (2-3,2R, RBI) singles & steals 2nd. Jacob James (2BB, 2R) walks, bringing a new Bucs pitcher. With 2 on, and 1 out, Franklin (2-3,1R, RBI) doubles to left scoring McNatt 4-0. Jackson (1-3,R,2 RBI) singles on a fly ball to right fielder, James and Franklin scores and it was 6-0 Mustangs. Tidwell(2-3,2R) singles on a line drive to center, Tidwell steals 2nd and Jackson scores 7-0. Hallmark (2-3,2R) singles, Sharpton walks, Evan Morgan (1-3, 2RBI) singles on a line drive to left plating Tidwell and Hallmark, 9-0 Loretto. The 10th run of the game came as McNatt singles for the second time sending Sharpton home and the Mustangs were up 10-0. The final runs came on the 3R homer by Weathers (1-4, 3RBI, HR) making the score 13-0.
University School did get on the board in the bottom of the 5th as Michael Degennaro leads off with a double and moves to third on a pass ball. He later scored on a sac-fly to right by Christopher Hare. The final 13-1. The Mustangs(32-2) (1-0) will play their second game Wednesday at 12:30 vs South Pittsburg (24-10)(1-0).
Forrest Rockets Continue To Impress!
The Forrest Rockets (23-15) follow up their “upset” win in the sectional of MLK with another stunner, a 5-3 “upset” win over #2 Covington (32-10) at Blackman High School. Forrest will now play Greeneville Wednesday at 12:30.
Tuesday’s win for the Rockets was highlighted by the stellar performance by junior hurler Cole Mealer setting down 11 Chargers batters. The first 3 innings were classic. A pitchers duel. Covington junior hurler Christian Delashmit and Rockets junior Mealer keeping the game scoreless.
Forrest gets on the board in the 4th. With 2 outs junior Grayson Whaley doubles and scored on a line-drive base hit by sophomore Blaize Sweeney. 1-0 Rockets. Covington answers in the top of the 5th. With 2 outs Benton Glass doubles, Sterling Lomax singles scoring Joshua McGarity tying then game 1-1. Griffin Warmath singles plating Lomax and the Chargers led 2-1. The Forrest Rockets playing at their prime answered Covington in their part of the 5th, retaking the lead 3-2. With 1 out senior Jaylan Smith walks, Dylan Eady singles to left, Dustin Brashears singles and as Mealer hits into a fielders choice, Smith scores. Forrest added 2 more in the bottom of the 6th making score 5-2. The Chargers added one of the own in the top of 7th and the final is 5-3 Rockets.
Columbia Academy Advances In Winner Bracket In Class-A With No-Hit Performance!
The opening game of the TSSAA Class-A Baseball Tournament was a masterful one for CA pitcher William Huey. The senior went 6 & 2/3 innings, retiring all 20 batter he faced striking out 11. Andrew Logsdon entered the game with 2 outs and closed the game allowing the only batter to reach on a base-on-balls. Logsdon fanned his final batter.
This game went scoreless through 4-1/2 innings. In the bottom of the 5th the Columbia Academy Bulldogs Matthew Petzelt starts the inning with a single and moves to third on a wild pitch. With 2 outs Anthony Kintz singles plating Petzelt and Dawgs were up 1-0. Kaleb Jeans then singles and Kintz is driven in by a Blake Kincaid double and Jeans follows on an error and CA led 3-0, with Kincaid moving to third on the miscue. William Huey smacks a hard grounder to right field scoring Kincaid 4-0 Dawgs. The final run came off the 5th single by Ragan Chaney and it was 5-0 Columbia Academy.