Sweetwater baseball was stunned by six runs in the seventh inning from No. 2
McMinn Central Friday night, knocking the top-seeded Wildcats into the elimination bracket.
“In a very competitive district, you go 9-1 in the regular season and going into the postseason, you have a big target on your back,” Sweetwater coach Travis Watson said. “There are teams that are fighting for their life that are going to give you their best punch. There is not a team in the district tournament that does not think they are going to win it.”
Leading for the first half of the game, Sweetwater (25-8) limited the Chargers (15-12) to five hits outside of the decisive frame — one that began with a 4-4 score.
“We talked about being a one-game season on Monday. You have a scrappy Kingston team that is fighting for their life as well,” Watson added. “Our goal has never been to win the district tournament. The goal has always been to advance. Right now, it is one game moving on. A win can advance you into the region — that is the point we are at and we are fighting for our life.”
Sweetwater used six separate pitchers in the defeat. Caleb Powell led the way with 61 pitches and three innings.
Blaine Watson’s three strikeouts led the Wildcats. Powell finished with one. Bryson Burgess, Landen Key, Tucker Lorenz and Jayden Richesin combined for 54 pitches.
All pitchers will be available for Sweetwater on Monday.
“We thought Tucker could maybe get us an out or two (in the seventh inning) and we would go to Richesin with a tie game. But they get a single right out the gate and we throw away a bunt,” Watson said. “At that point, it is second and third with no outs and the top of their lineup coming up. We are just trying to get out of that last inning to minimize being down a run or two.”
Central found two home runs ahead of the late barrage. Corbyn Frisbie’s line-drive rocket cut Sweetwater’s 2-0 lead in half.
Tyler Oaks brought the Chargers within one run in the fourth inning with a home run to right field.
Sweetwater took the lead in the bottom of the first. Senior Blaine Watson singled with one out before senior Tucker Lorenz’s home run to right field scored the pair.
The Wildcats found their second two-run lead of the night two innings later. Ahead 2-1, freshman Bryson Burgess’ single scored Houser. Burgess was caught advancing to second to end the frame.
Sweetwater found another run in the fifth inning. A trio of walks loaded the bases before a balk scored Lorenz.
Another out on the base pads saw Cade Houser caught in a rundown on an attempted steal of home and ended the inning early.
“It was a low percentage play. We were trying to create a balk and we got one balk. We tried to steal home with a 2-2 count,” Watson said. “We are not sure if he stepped off or not — it was real, real close. But we did not get the call and they get him out in the rundown.”
Kingston and Sweetwater split in the regular season, with the Yellow Jackets winning in Sweetwater after the Wildcats clinched the regular season district championship at 9-0.
“They are a high-energy team and I am sure they will bring back their best guy,” Watson said. “They are a scrappy bunch. They were one out away from going to the seventh inning yesterday. Central did a good job of scoring six runs with two outs against them.
“Very evenly matched teams with us, Central and Kingston. Very good baseball players.”
Blake Herrell will be available after throwing 101 pitches on Thursday. Herrell struck out three batters and allowed five hits in his six innings against Sweetwater on April 15.
Both games in the series finished 4-3.
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