(This story has been updated with new sectional information)
Bradley Central’s Gunnar Norwood shot down Rhea County with a two-hit masterpiece, teammates supplied a 15-hit attack – Kylar Lynn and Cason Still each had three hits – and the Bears rolled to a 12-0, five-inning blowout to capture the Region 3-3A baseball championship Wednesday night in Evensville.
Bradley Central (28-6), which has won eight straight games, will host Stewarts Creek (21-15) in the sectional on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The game was originally for Friday night, but changed due to expected heavy rain on Friday.
Rhea County (22-14) will hit the road to play at Siegel (28-8). The Stars beat Stewarts Creek, 5-0, in the Region 4-3A championship game. This game has also been moved to Saturday at 6 p.m. Central time.
The Golden Eagles’ Weston Ray got both hits off Norwood (8-0), singles in the first and third innings. Still, Norwood’s ERA dipped to near 0.60 with the shutout. He struck out four, walked one and hit two.
Still, a hitting machine in the postseason, went 3 for 4 against the Eagles and is now 10 of 20 from the leadoff position.
Still started the first inning with a double, Jake Presley followed with a hit to put runners at first and third. Still scored on a throwing error by pitcher Cameron Travis (1-3). Presley was picked off and Tyler Carpenter reached on a fielder’s choice, Lynn had a sacrifice fly and Brandon Thompson’s double drove in the third run of the inning.
With two out in the third, Lynn doubled and scored on Thompson’s single. Jeremiah Sims had a single and Norwood’s hit scored Briar Lee, who ran for Thompson.
Bradley Central broke the game wide open with a five-run fourth inning.
Still got a hit and Presley walked. Carpenter’s single loaded the bases. Dylan Standifer’s single drove in two runs. Lynn’s hit scored two more and the fifth came home on an error.
The Bears pushed two more runs across in the fifth when Still collected his third hit, Presley followed with a single to put runners at first and third. Sill scored on a passed ball and Presley came home on an infield out.
Championship Boxscore
Bradley Central 302 52 – 12 15 2
Rhea County 000 00 – 0 2 3
WP – Norwood (8-0); LP – Travis (1-3)
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)