Soddy-Daisy committed six errors leading to seven unearned runs Wednesday night and the Trojans fell to Rhea County, 7-3, in high school baseball action at Rhea County High School.
The Golden Eagles took full advantage of the Trojans’ sloppy defense and scored twice in the third inning, three times in the fourth and twice in the sixth.
That was more than enough offense to back Rhea County’s Ricky Guthrie, who limited Soddy-Daisy to one hit – a two-out single by Noah Howard in the sixth inning.
Guthrie threw six innings and struck out nine, walked six and gave up all three Soddy-Daisy runs. John Combs pitched the seventh, striking out one and walking two.
The Trojans scored twice in the first inning. Spencer Gore walked and stole second and third. Landon Maynor walked. Jacob Jennings struck out, the Rhea catcher dropped the ball and Gore scored. Maynor later stole home with two out.
In the third, Jennings walked and stole second and third and after Hayden Maynor walked, Jennings stole home to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead.
Guthrie singled in the third and with two outs Keaton Ray walked. Combs reached on Landon Maynor’s error and Blaine Reel and Ray scored on the play.
In Rhea’s fourth, Ross Pendergrass walked and with two out Houghston Schaefer drew a walk. Conner Thompson reached on a Hayden Maynor error and Pendergrass scored to tie the game a 3-3. Ray singled home Schaefer and Thompson came home on Brackett’s single to left.
Soddy-Daisy’s Aaron Couch started and pitching 5 2/3 innings, scattering four hits and threw 108 pitches. He struck out five and walked five, but the porous defense behind didn’t do any damage to his ERA. Wyatt Warren faced one batter and retired him on one pitch.
Guthrie threw 118 pitches in six innings. Combs threw 29 pitches in the seventh.
Linescore
Soddy-Daisy 201 000 0 – 3 1 6
Rhea County 002 302 x – 7 4 1
Couch, Warren (6) and Cranmore; Guthrie, Combs (7) and Thompson.
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)