'Canes Bounce Back With 8-7 Win Versus Trojans

DelValle Pitches, Blum Homers For East Hamilton

  • Tuesday, March 21, 2017
  • Larry Fleming
East Hamilton center fielder Tyler Blum (13) nears home plate in front of jubilant teammates after hitting a solo home run to start the fourth inning against Soddy-Daisy on Tuesday. Blum's shot to left field gave the Hurricanes a 7-1 lead and they eventually won 8-7.
East Hamilton center fielder Tyler Blum (13) nears home plate in front of jubilant teammates after hitting a solo home run to start the fourth inning against Soddy-Daisy on Tuesday. Blum's shot to left field gave the Hurricanes a 7-1 lead and they eventually won 8-7.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Soddy-Daisy one-hit East Hamilton on Monday in a 6-2 win.

The Hurricanes gathered for a little chat after the game, and discussed their plight more before Tuesday’s batting practice.

Apparently, a few words went a long way toward yanking the ‘Canes out of a slump starting the season.

“The players and coaches talked after Monday’s game and we got some things off our chests,” Brandon DelValle, the starting pitcher in Game 2 of the District 5-3A series.

“We talked and nobody held anything back. It was an attitude adjustment, I guess. I think that’s what we needed.”

Apparently, DelValle was right.

The Hurricanes (2-4 overall, 1-2 district) built an 8-1 lead and held off the Trojans’ rally that produced six seventh-inning runs and posted an 8-7 victory on their home field before a nice crowd on an 80-degree afternoon.

“I think a lot of us were trying to do too much at the plate,” said center fielder Tyler Blum, who collected two hits, including a solo homer in a two-run fifth and scored twice. “I felt better today in my at-bats. I was more comfortable.”

Hurricane coach Steve Garland didn’t think there was anything “special” about the postgame chat Monday night.

“We emphasized to them to not do too much at the plate,” he said. “We tried to simple their approaches down and it was good to see them respond (Tuesday). In both our wins we challenged them after losses and they responded. Maybe we should challenge them more.”

Tuesday’s game was moved up two hours, starting at 1 p.m., to avoid a forecast that included evening thunderstorms. Several games in the area were postponed, including the second game between Cleveland and Ooltewah.

DelValle pitched six strong innings before tiring in the seventh – the first five runs the Trojans (3-3, 1-1) scored were charged to DeValle. Chuck Bronson came on in relief and gave up one hit and one run before retiring three in a row to end the game.

Delvalle, who faced four batters in the seventh, gave up 11 hits and allowed six runs. Bronson yielded a hit and one run.

“I felt good and tried to stay calm,” DelValle said. “I didn’t worry about anything but I did feel myself getting tired in the seventh inning.”

It’s a good thing East Hamilton put some punch in their bats and had he seven-run cushion when the Trojans exploded with six runs and four hits in the final inning, sending all nine batters to the plate.

“I’m not happy about the score and the loss,” Trojans coach Jared Hensley said. “But I am happy the way our guys came back on East Hamilton.”

The Trojans, who got a combined one-hit pitching effort from Logan Workman and reliever Jake Flippo on Monday, took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to a pair of throwing errors by Hunter Ottinger.

Justin Cooke and Jacob Jennings each had bunt singles to start the first and each time Ottinger threw wildly to first base, allowing runners to advance. On the second miscue, Cooke scored.

Garland called timeout, strolled to the mound and had an animated talk with his infield players.

“It looked like we’d never seen a bunt before,” he said.

However, DelValle found his rhythm and held the Trojans scoreless over the next five innings.

East Hamilton, which scored four runs in their first two district games, stunned the Trojans with a four-run first inning.

Nick Woods walked and with two outs Brayden Griffith’s single pushed the Hurricanes’ first run across. East Hamilton then got three more successive singles by Davis Dunn, DelValle and Will Campbell, the last driving in two runs. When Campbell was caught in a rundown at second base, DelValle scored from third with the fourth run.

East Hamilton added two more runs in the second on Drew Cantrell’s single to right field. The ’Canes put together five straight hits in the inning after two were out. Soddy-Daisy’s Dylan Perry, the first of three relievers Hensley used, retired DeValle on an infield grounder to end the threat.

“We were in kind of a weird pitching situation today,” Hensley said. “Perry’s had the flu and I hadn’t seen him in a week or so. We knew he couldn’t go long and we weren’t able to use our guys the way we’d like. Tip your hat to East Hamilton though; they kept putting the ball in play.”

Blum, who had ice packs wrapped on his right shoulder and left ankle after the game, started the East Hamilton fourth with his home run. Cantrell was hit by a pitch and went to second on Griffith’s third straight hit. With one out DelValle singled to center and scored on Campbell’s groundout.

“We came out with a better mental approach and more energy today,” DelValle said. “I knew we were going to hit the ball and score some runs. We stopped playing for ourselves and played for the team.”

Flippo and Tanner Brown pitched the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, and combined to retire the final six batters. Flippo had two strikeouts.

That set up the Trojans’ seventh-inning comeback.

DelValle walked Cooke. Jennings reached safely on a swinging bunt. A single by Perez loaded the bases with no out.

Travis was hit by a pitch, pushing Cooke home with the inning’s first run and chased DelValle.

Jennings scored on Addison Roberts’ hit off reliever Chuck Bronson.

Luke Ellis’ hit off Bronson pushed Perez home.

Roberts scored on a groundout and Ellis eventually scored the sixth run on Bronson’s wild pitch.

Bronson fanned Aaron Couch and Hayden Maynor, the Trojans’ No. 8 and No. 9 batters in the lineup, to preserve the Hurricanes’ victory.

“I thought DelValle really battled,” Garland said. “We found a way to make it interesting and had a hard time getting those last three outs as Soddy-Daisy came back on us. I was glad we got those outs because we didn’t want to get back to Cooke at the top of the lineup.”

Brayden Griffith went 3-for-4 for the Hurricanes while Blum, Davis Dunn and DelValle all had two hits. Campbell had a key hit in the first inning and finished with three RBIs.

Roberts went 3-for-4 with a RBI for the Trojans. Jennings, Perez and Travis each had two hits.

Both teams collected 12 hits.

Boxscore

Soddy-Daisy             100 000 6 – 7 12 0

East Hamilton           420 200 x – 8 12 3

Seth Coffelt, Perry (2), Flippo (5), Brown (6) and Travis, DelValle, Bronson (7) and Campbell.

(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)

Right-handed pitcher Brandon DelValle delivers a pitch during East Hamilton's District 5-3A baseball game against Soddy-Daisy. Delvalle pitched into the seventh before tiring as the Trojans scored six runs to make it a one-run game. East Hamilton won 8-7.
Right-handed pitcher Brandon DelValle delivers a pitch during East Hamilton's District 5-3A baseball game against Soddy-Daisy. Delvalle pitched into the seventh before tiring as the Trojans scored six runs to make it a one-run game. East Hamilton won 8-7.
photo by Dennis Norwood
Latest Headlines
Sports
Chattanooga Women Third At Spring Break Shootout
  • 3/18/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs got off to a solid start at the Spring Break Shootout. The ladies are 4 under on Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club’s South Course carding 280 over the opening 18 and 284 ... more

Sweetwater's Keke Norfolk Signs With Cleveland State
Sweetwater's Keke Norfolk Signs With Cleveland State
  • 3/18/2024

Keke Norfolk of Sweetwater High School signed a National Letter of Intent with the Cleveland State women’s basketball team this past week. Norfolk a 5’9” guard/forward, becomes the first signee ... more

Vol Baseball Win Streak Ends At 17 At Alabama
  • 3/18/2024

No. 5/5 Tennessee's 17-game winning streak came to an end with a 6-3 loss to No. 12/14 Alabama on Saturday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide (16-3, 1-1 SEC) ... more