Carver Still Unbeaten As Hixson Beats Central Again

Wildcats Clinch District 6-AA Regular Season With 9-4 Win

  • Wednesday, April 13, 2016
  • John Hunt

The Hixson Wildcats are in the middle of one of their best baseball seasons in recent memory and they accomplished their first goal at Central's Gene Lively Stadium Wednesday night.

Behind the pitching of senior Brandon Carver, the Wildcats clinched the regular-season championship for District 6-AA with the 9-4 victory.

Hixson is now 10-0 in the district and 18-3 overall after winning for the second straight night against the Purple Pounders.

Carver didn't have his best stuff as he allowed a season-high eight hits, but he was more than good enough to win for the sixth time without a loss as the Wildcats took advantage of two big innings to win with ease.

An unearned run in the first allowed the Wildcats to take a quick 1-0 lead before scoring four times in the second for a more comfortable 5-0 advantage.

Then in the sixth after Central had made it interesting with four runs in the fourth, the Wildcats put things away with another four-run inning as the Pounders were unable to manufacture as second comeback.

Carver pitched the first five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking one.  He was relieved by Matt Oxford in the sixth, who closed out the game without a threat from Central.

"I didn't have my best stuff tonight, but I have a great team behind me and they did a good job of supporting me at the plate," the 17-year-old Carver said after the game ended.

"We got punched in the mouth when they scored those four in the fourth, but we came right back and did the same to them, but it's always nice to win a big district game on the road.  I have all the confidence in the world in my teammates and we're having a lot of fun these days," he added.

Oxford reached on a one-out single in the first and scored the first Hixson run on the first of four Central errors.

Tanner Moylan, Tuesday's winning pitcher who blanked the Pounders on just two hits, finished the game on Wednesday with two hits, including the only one in the second when Hixson sent seven hitters to the plate and took control with the four-run uprising.

Cabe Davis had the only run batted in with a sacrifice fly to center while one scored on another Central error, a second on a passed ball and a third on a wild pitch.

The Pounders had their best inning in the fourth when they sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored all four of their runs.

Ryan Montgomery and Micah Weaver both singled to get things started and moved up on stolen bases before scoring on a single by Cody Reels.

Back-to-back bunts by Paul Taylor and Dillard Hawkins loaded the bases before Andrew Bingham got hit by a pitch for an RBI.  Tanner Mowery also got a run batted in the easy way after earning Carver's only walk. Montgomery had a chance to do further damage as he came to the plate with the bases full and two outs, but he struck out swinging to end that threat.

Carver rebounded from that one rough inning for a 1-2-3 fifth, but was replaced by Oxford after his pitch count had reached its limit.

While Central made it interesting with its four runs, Hixson ended all speculation of a Pounder win with another four-run inning in the sixth.

Xan Tobias had the biggest hit in the frame with a two-run double, which drove in courtesy runner Jaylen Pryor and Logan Rigsby.  Moylan then drove in Tobias with his second single before scoring the fourth run himself a few minutes later on a wild pitch.

Hixson coach Colton Green likes the way things are going for his team, but he knows it's a long way until the end.

"We accomplished one goal tonight and it's nice to be regular-season champions in District 6-AA," he said following a meeting with his team.

"The next time we meet them will be much more important, but it's nice to get two wins over them this week.  I thought Brandon pitched well and all of his hits allowed were scattered.  He did a nice job of working out of several tough situations, but Matt Oxford came in and closed it out," Green nodded.

Central is now 9-14 overall and 6-2 in the district.  Coach Glen Carter is feeling the pain of a young and inexperienced team that only has three players with any varsity experience.

"We just didn't do anything to help ourselves win this game.  We had one good inning offensively, but turned around and let Hixson score four more," he said while taking a quick break from raking the pitchers mound.

"We have holes all in our lineup and our inexperience is killing us.  Give Hixson credit for putting the ball in play, but we just didn't make the plays to stay in it.  Hixson did what they had to do to win it, but this isn't much more than bragging rights at this point.  They'll have the number-one seed and we'll be second, so I'm sure we'll see them again.

"I remember a few years ago when we were 14-0 in the regular season and didn't even get out of the district tournament, so winning the regular season is almost a curse at times.  But it seems like we're allergic to RBIs as we don't seem to have anyone who wants to get a big hit in key situations. 

"We'll just have to keep working and hope to get hot at the right time," Carter concluded.

While Carver was the winning pitcher for Hixson, southpaw Bingham was the loser after allowing all nine runs on just five hits.  He struck out three and didn't walk anyone, but he hit four Wildcats.

Moylan was the only Hixson player with two hits while none had more than one for Central.

HIXSON  140 004 0 -- 9 7 2

CENTRAL  000 400 0 -- 4 8 4

Carver, Oxford (6) and Julian; Bingham, Waters (6) and McKinney, Waters (3) and McKinney (6).

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

Latest Headlines
Sports
UTC Sofbtall Hosts ETSU In Friday Doubleheader
  • 3/28/2024

The Chattanooga softball team returns to Frost Stadium for a seven-game home stand that begins Friday afternoon against East Tennessee State in Southern Conference action. The Mocs are 21-8 ... more

Covenant Men's Tennis Loses 6-3
  • 3/28/2024

The Covenant Scots looked to boost their nonconference tennis resume with a win on the road at Oglethorpe. Covenant was unable to get the job done, as it fell 3-6. Final: Covenant 3, Oglethorpe ... more

7 Football Mocs Participate In Annual Pro Day
  • 3/28/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs had a 7-man contingent go through their paces in front of NFL scouts at the annual Pro Day. It started in the Wolford Family Strength & Conditioning Center before shifting ... more