The McMinn County Cherokees won their fifth straight 5AAA game to remain atop the league standings and did so by shutting down one of the league’s hottest offenses in taking a 10-2 victory over homestanding East Hamilton Monday afternoon.
Andrew Ronne, the ETSU signee, kept the Hurricanes in check with a nifty three-hit gem in five innings of work, striking out seven Canes on the day.
The Cherokees offered plenty of offense to back him, lashing out 11 hits on the day as Andrew Beavers wielded the big stick with four hits, including a homer in McMinn’s five-run third inning uprising. Beavers also doubled to go along with two singles. Jace Hyde added a three-run homer in the third as the Cherokees stretched the lead to 7-0.
Will Grimmett had an RBI-single in a two-run first inning and wound up with three hits on the day and drove in a pair of runs. Ollie Akens pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. Carson Hedrick drove in both runs for the Canes who are the highest scoring team in league play. McMinn County now stands at 7-2 in 5AAA action while East Hamilton drops to 3-6.
Central 8, Red Bank 3 (10 innings): Christian Montgomery and Soloman Williams each had big hits in the top of the 10th inning as the Pounders plated five runs to collect the extra-inning victory. Landon Prowess pitched the final two innings to collect the win, allowing two hits and striking out three.
Central had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning on an Evan Schwartl double before Kenny Shadden singled to drive him home. The Lions responded with a run in the bottom of the frame on a walk, ground out and stolen base before Ethan Terry got the run in on a ground out to extend it.
In the top of the tenth, Jeremy Rogers singled to start things off and after a walk and error loaded the bases, Montgomery drilled a two-run single. Another walk reloaded the bases before Eric Dill was hit by a pitch to force in a run and Williams laced a two-run single to make it 8-3.
Schwartzl pitched the first eight innings and gave up three hits while striking out seven. Montgomery, Williams, Jailon Jackson and Dylan Brown each had two hits as the Pounders collected 12 hits.
Hixson 16, Tyner 1: The Wildcats used a 14-run second inning as they took full advantage of eight walks, three hit batsmen, four Tyner errors, a sac fly and three hits to do the damage. Manny Velazquez drove in three runs on the day while AJ Wild added two RBI on two hits and Cameron Butler drove in two more. Brayden Moyer got the win with a two-hit effort, striking out seven in the victory.
McCallie 7, CCS 0: McCallie’s Nic Mirabella needed just 82 pitches to twirl a three-hit complete-game shutout, striking out 14 Charger batters in the win. The Blue Tornado used two big innings, pushing across five runs in the second and adding two more in the fifth.
Nolan Sergeant got the first run in with a bases-loaded hit by pitch before a wild pitch allowed the second run in the five-run second. Carter Hewitt then ripped a two-run single and Hudson Calhoun added a run-scoring double. Sergeant picked up another ribbie with a sac fly in the fifth and Javen Johnson produced the final run with an RBI-double.
Notre Dame 9, Boyd Buchanan 1: The Fightin’ Irish broke open a scoreless game through three innings with nine runs over the final four frames as Mitch Grannon had a big day at the plate and on the mound. Grannon drove in four runs with his two hits and pitched a complete-game two-hitter, striking out 10 Buc hitters. Brooks Brownlee added a double and a homer to drive in three runs for the winners as well. Jacob Pickett struck out nine in the loss for Boyd Buchanan and Perry Griffin had a triple.