TUSCULUM — The Elizabethton Cyclones wrecked Volunteer’s first regional baseball appearance since 1995, winning 5-2 in Friday’s opening round at Tusculum’s Pioneer Park to send the Falcons into the losers’ bracket.
Leadoff hitter Bryson Rowland went 3 for 4, drove in two runs and scored twice to lead the Cyclones, who got a masterful pitching performance from Rhett Slagle. The sophomore right-hander limited the Falcons to two hits, walked one and struck out 11 to earn the complete-game victory.
Anthony Blasini and Gavin Hickernell had Volunteer’s only hits in the game.
Elizabethton took a 1-0 lead when Bryson Rowland led off the third with a triple and came around to score on a double by JD Hooks.
Volunteer finally got something rolling in the fifth. Anthony Blasini singled, Greyson Dennis was hit by a pitch,and Gavin Hickernell reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Blakely Broussard stepped in and put down a sacrifice bunt to score Jameson Mowell, who broke for home and scored. He crossed home plate about the same time Elizabethton pitcher Rhett Slagle fielded the ball, leaving him to settle for the out at first, and tying the game at 1-1.
Falcons’ starter Austin Williams walked just three batters in the game, but all three came in a costly fifth inning. Rowland, who singled with one out to get on, circled the bases on the three walks — the last one to Justin Whitehead — to put the Cyclones out in front 2-1.
Slagle then got all the run support he needed in a three-run sixth. Elizabethton used two singles, a Volunteer error and a Rowland triple to take a 5-1 lead.
Williams was hit by a pitch to start the top of the seventh for Volunteer. Dennis drew a walk to put two aboard with one out. Hickernell stepped in and singled to right field, scoring courtesy runner Cade Smith. Hickernell moved to second on the throw, putting runners at second and third with one out for Volunteer. Slagle stepped up and struck out the final two batters to end the game.
Williams went the distance for Volunteer, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the second.
The win put the District 1 champion Cyclones in the Region 1-3A title game on Saturday at noon against District 2 champion Greeneville. The Greene Devils shut out Crockett 4-0 on Friday night to advance to the championship game.
Most Popular
Comments / 0