Andrew Ronne fired a complete-game two-hit shutout as the ETSU signee picked up his first win of the year by striking out 12 Bradley Bears in a 2-0 triumph. Ronne only allowed four runners and got out of the only Bradley threat in the third when Xavier Thompson walked and was out at the plate when Cherokee catcher Mason Roderick flipped to Ronne as Thompson tried to score on a ball that got away.
McMinn was able to get all the runs it needed in the first and it was a good thing because Bradley starter Cooper Casteel only allowed one hit after the initial inning.
The Cherokees got three of their four hits for the game in the first, including doubles by Gavin Peterson and Hayden Frank to score the first run, and a single by Sam Goodin to plate the second one. Casteel retired 13 of the next 14 but the Bears couldn’t solve Ronne.
With the win, McMinn remains tied atop the league standings at 5-2 while Bradley falls to 2-3 in league play.
Walker Valley 6, Cleveland 1: Ben Smith continued his Monday dominance, pitching a one-hitter to move to 4-0 on the season as the Mustangs put up a pair of bookend three-run innings to stymie the host Blue Raiders. Smith retired the first nine hitters before WV freshman Mycah Jordan singled to right field and later scored after a walk and an error.
The Mustangs got a couple of big hits from Ryan Lay in each of the three-run innings. His two-run single in the first got things going and later added an RBI-single in the seventh. He led all hitters with three hits. Aiden Gibson added two hits for the winners and Geo Angeles had an RBI-single in the seventh. Will Godwin took his first loss despite striking out nine Mustangs on the night. Smith had eight strikeouts for WV, which moves to 5-2 in league play. Cleveland falls to 2-3.
Soddy Daisy 10, Marion Co 4: Aaron Watson drove in five Trojan runs with a trio of hits and Hunter Ward picked up the pitching victory with five innings worth of five-hit ball. Landon Maynor had two hits for the winners and AJ Florio scored four runs and added two hits. Mekell Cranmore also drove in two runs as the Trojans got work in during their bye week from league play.
Sequatchie Co. 12, Cumberland Co. 1: Bodie Terry had a big night for the Indians, both with his arm and his bat. Terry fired a complete-game five-hitter, whiffing eight in the effort, and was 4-for-4 at the plate, driving in three runs. Logan Potts and Terry Lynn each added two hits for the winners and Ethan Seals drove in two runs.