Tellico Plains was holding its own with host Kingston in Wednesday’s District 3-2A play-in game for five innings, but a six-run bottom of the sixth led the No. 3 Yellow Jackets (14-12) to eliminate the Bears (5-17) with a 14-4 six-inning win.
“I told the seniors I love them. Great group of kids and I appreciate all they have given me for four years. To the other guys, I said we just have to get better,” Tellico Plains coach Heath Ware said.
Tellico navigated jams throughout the night, trailing Kingston by two runs in the fifth inning before the tide turned one final time. Kingston pushed eight runs across off five hits in the fifth and sixth innings, including a walkoff triple that evoked the run rule ahead of the seventh inning.
Lasting as long as they could with Kingston, Tellico did good things defensively early. The Bears faced a bases-loaded jam with one out but escaped the hole by allowing only four runs.
“It was big, but it should have never come to that. We had a couple errors and an opportunity for a double play to get out of the inning,” Ware said. “There are things we could have done different. We had a pretty rough inning and made some errors — to get out with just four was huge. I am pretty proud of them and what they did there.”
Peyton Dodson struck out five Yellow Jackets through his 3.1 innings, but already over 40 pitches through two frames and finishing at 76 on the day, the senior was going to be limited in his performance.
“Peyton gets on the mound and grinds every time he is up there. He is a great ball player and pitcher. He is a do-what-you-ask guy and works hard,” Ware said. “Every time he steps out there, he is there to do his best and he does just that.”
The Bears did strike first. Dodson reached first off a leadoff error before advancing on third off another error. The senior put Tellico ahead of Will Sanders’ two-out single.
Tellico did not score again until the fifth inning, accounting for three baserunners off zero hits through the three in-between innings.
“All year we have struggled to find an identity at the plate. We struggled today and the pitcher kept us off-balance with his curveball,” Ware said. “We missed a couple of bunt opportunities and things like that. We just never got into a good rhythm to do anything.”
Senior Kyle Duckworth singled with one out before senior Cole Kirkland brought him home off a right-field single and cut Kingston’s lead to 6-2.
A bases-loaded walk and then hit batters scored Daren McJunkin and Kirkland, bringing Tellico within two runs. A pop-out ended the frame.
Three seniors appear on the Bears’ roster: Dodson, Duckworth and Kirkland.
“Peyton and Cole have been solid for me the last two years pitching. For Cole to have the attitude he has had after being put into a DH role because of his arm — he has been a great leader for us,” Ware said. “Peyton on the mound, center field and batting — did awesome. Kyle has had to field a few roles catching, playing second base and pitching. He has done awesome as well and I cannot wait to see what they do in the future.”
Tellico’s season ends while Kingston advances into the four-team, double-elimination portion of the District 3-2A tournament where they will face No. 2 McMinn Central at Sweetwater High School Thursday.
No. 1 Sweetwater hosts No. 5 Polk County, 2-1 winners over No. 4 Meigs County.
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