Backs against the wall, Sweetwater forced a winner-take-all game three after 14 innings of baseball on Thursday.
After a 6-4 loss in game 1, the Wildcats found a 3-1 win over Pigeon Forge in a must-win nightcap.
The Wildcats (31-10) have pitched out their two aces — Kai Correll and Caleb Powell — who stood tall on the mound, but will be unavailable to pitch in the game that decides the fate of Sweetwater’s season and if the Wildcats will return to the Class 2A state tournament after last season’s Spring Fling debut.
Coming from behind in both games, the day saw four collective lead changes along with defenses navigating jams and experienced names delivering when called upon.
“It was really hard to kind of get over that first game with how we lost. It makes it tough to have to rebound and start a game in 30 minutes,” Sweetwater coach Travis Watson said. “We felt like if we were not able to kind of flush it and prepare, the next game could get out of hand in a hurry. Our guys did a good job of kind of setting a tone and regrouping.”
GM2: Sweetwater 3, Pigeon Forge 1: Tucker Lorenz delivered his third hit of game 2 with two outs in the fourth inning. His double into center field brought in Nolan Dacus and advanced Correll to third.
One batter later, Correll reached home off an error from Pigeon Forge pitcher Trevan Myers, pushing Sweetwater ahead 3-1.
The Wildcats had to come from behind in game 2. After falling behind in the second inning, junior Cade Houser delivered an RBI single to score Correll.
Houser notched RBIs in both games.
“Our upperclassmen right there — No. 1 through No. 4 — made big swings,” Watson said.
Blaine Watson and Brody Watson made solid contact on balls that were dealt with by right fielder David Price — notching a popout at the wall and making a diving catch on Brody Watson’s effort.
“We had big swings when we had runners on with the middle lineup. When you are in those close games, you have to take advantage when you have runners on,” Travis Watson added.
The Wildcats could have had a more profitable frame but, with two on and no outs, the Tigers played out of the jam that saw three leadoff baserunners.
Playing out of jams was a theme in the second game. Sweetwater turned two double plays in the third and fourth innings to quell the Tigers’ momentum.
A hit batter started the third inning for Pigeon Forge, but Lorenz fielded Myers' hit, turning the ball to Bryson Burgess and doubling up at first with Brody Watson.
An inning later, with two on and no outs, Sweetwater took a gamble. Hoping for a bunt, the Wildcats’ defense set up for a designed play, but Lorenz reacted quickly on a line drive to shortstop and turned the double play at second base.
“We got a gift. We were gambling thinking they were going to bunt and ran a defensive wheel play,” Watson said.
Lorenz was running to third while the rest of the infield crashed the would-be bunt.
“They hit a line drive halfway between second and third. It was almost like … How does that happen? Right place at the right time and it worked for us,” Watson added.
On the mound, Correll struck out six batters across his full seven innings, allowing six hits and walking two. The senior notched two strikeouts after each double play to end the innings.
Correll has pitched against elimination once this season — against Kingston in the District 3-2A tournament and twice in the 2023 Class 2A state tournament.
“He has been on the mound with our season on the line three out of the last four games. Coach (Bryce) Mitchell and I went over the numbers and they were incredible,” Watson said. “He just did not give in, pounded the zone and made pitches when he had to. He is just tough and he has a lot of heart.
“When you are tough and have a lot of heart good things will happen.”
Pigeon Forge worked a runner to third base off a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning before getting an out on the basepaths to end the frame.
After a one-out walk in the seventh, Lorenz fielded a grounder for the second out and Correll’s final strikeout forced the finale.
GM1: Pigeon Forge Tigers 6, Sweetwater Wildcats 4: Sweetwater held a two-run lead entering the bottom of the sixth before a four-spot from Pigeon Forge turned the tide.
The host Tigers found two runners on — through a hit batter and a walk — with two outs. An error at shortstop pulled Pigeon Forge within one run.
One batter later, a single to right field tied the contest before Myers’ single mixed with an error moved Pigeon Forge ahead.
Down 1-0, Lorenz opened up the fourth inning with a single before Houser moved him to second base off a squeeze play.
Two batters later, Richesin’s two-out single scored Lorenz. A single and hit batter loaded the bases, but a grounder to shortstop ended the threat.
One inning later, Correll doubled before Lorenz moved him to third with a single. Houser’s double scored both to put the Wildcats ahead 3-2. Brody Watson’s groundout scored Houser to advance the lead.
On the mound, Powell struck out four batters and walked two through 5.1 innings.
The final round: With Correll and Powell unavailable, Sweetwater expects to start freshman Bryson Burgess in the second game 3 between Sweetwater and Pigeon Forge since the sectional round has moved to a three-game series.
“We are going to see what we can get out of him and then it is all hands on deck after that, whatever it takes,” Watson said. “Whether it is Jayden early or late, Blaine in the middle or Tucker. We feel pretty good about where we are at pitching.”
Only throwing 12 pitches, Richesin is still available to pitch. Game 3 is set to start at 3 p.m. in Pigeon Forge.
“We are going to have to swing the bats and probably score more than we did today. They will be the home team on their home field — there is an advantage there,” Watson said. “We can control what we can control and we feel really good where we are at.”
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