Baylor jumped out to a lead early in their game Friday afternoon at Farragut before defeating the Admirals, 5-2.
The Red Raiders plated three runs in the top of the first and never relinquished that lead. Farragut, a District 4AAA power, scored one in the bottom of that inning and even though they would outhit Baylor 10-9, they could never generate enough offense to overtake the squad from Chattanooga.
Cooper Kinney continued to be the master of the long ball as he accounted for all three Baylor runs in that first inning by driving a Eli Evans pitch on a line drive over the right field fence bringing home Henry Godbout and Danny Corona who had reached base earlier.
Farragut countered with a lone marker when Parker Evans scampered home on a Hudson Siegler single to right.
Evans and Baylor’s Chris Campanella settled down into a pitcher’s duel for the next three innings before the Red Raiders struck for two runs in their half of the fifth inning.
Godbout led off the inning with an infield single to shortstop.
After a Corona fly out to center, Godbout advanced to second on a Kinney ground out to the pitcher. Vito Valincius followed with a line drive double to right field that chased Godbout home.
Gaston Carmichael in to run for Valincius scored Baylor’s final run when Hunter Herndon stroked a liner into right driving him home.
Farragut narrowed the final gap to 5-2 when Angus Pence jumped on Jacob Smith pitch for a solo homerun. Smith got the save, going three innings, allowing six hits and one run, striking out three. Campanella was the winning pitcher after going the first four innings, also giving up one run on four fits. Campanella struck out two and gave up four base on balls.
Godbout went two for four at the plate to include a double. Fellow Red Raider Kinney went two for three with a double and homerun for three RBIs.
BAYLOR 300 002 0 – 5 9 1
FARRAGUT 100 000 1 – 2 10 0
Campanella, Smith (5) and Larrea; Evans, Scott (5), Johnson (7), Toon (7) and Brewer.
(Email Dennis Norwood at dennisnorwood56@gmail.com)