Sale Creek Baseball Earns First District Crown Since 1979

Panthers Use Big First Inning To Defeat Tellico Plains, 8-5

  • Wednesday, May 12, 2021
  • William Shelton

Sale Creek scored seven runs in the first inning on their way to an eventual 8-5 victory, and a District 4A Championship, over Tellico Plains. The Panthers managed to hold off a talented Tellico team that was only a few missed opportunities away from securing their second district championship in a row.

“Tellico is a good squad, we lost this same game to these guys last year.” Sale Creek head coach Jimmy Pierce said. “But you wouldn’t believe how hard my guys worked, I’m just glad it paid off for them.

“This is our first district baseball championship since 1979,” Coach Pierce, who was named District Head Coach of the Year before the game, said. “I told the guys I still had hair back then!”

After a fantastic rendition of our national anthem played on electric guitar by Sale Creek left fielder Jonan Brantley, Braden Penny took the mound for The Panthers. In the pregame Penny was awarded District Player of the Year award, along with being named to the All-District team.

Jakob Elrod, Drew Hillian, Seth Hodge and Camden Perry were also selected for the All-District team for Panthers. Ben Edwards, Bo Elliott, Gaige Fairbanks and Jace Lynn were the selections from Tellico Plains.

Braden Penny might be the best player in the league, but he wasn’t the best pitcher on Tuesday night. After two full innings he had allowed five hits, three runs and recorded no strikeouts, but he managed to stick around longer than Bears’ starter Ben Edwards.

The Panthers were all over Edwards’ stuff from the start, banging out six straight hits in to start the game, three of them for extra bases. After seven runs had been scored and with only two outs recorded, Edwards was moved to third base and Cade Scoggins took the mound for the rest of te contest.

Despite going down big in the first inning it seemed like the Bears might make up all that lost ground in their second at bat. Tellico had three hits, two runs and two men on first and third when Penny faked the pick-off to third base and trapped the runner on first base in a pickle. Penny tagged out the runner between first and second then whipped the ball home where catcher Drew Hillian made the tag, ending the inning.

Shortly after that Tellico Plains conjured up some double play magic of their own with Sale Creek runners on first and second base. Tellico outfielder Gaige Fairbanks dove for and bobbled a line drive in shallow right field. In the confusion multiple Sale Creek runners ended up on first base and The Bears picked up force outs at third and second base. After two innings the score stood at 7-3.

In the third inning Penny gave way to Jakob Elrod who allowed two runs in five innings, but also earned seven strikeouts including two crucial K’s in the top of the seventh. Scoggins pitched well for the Bears on the night. He scattered six hits for one run in 5 one-third innings he worked.

Tellico scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to make the game 7-4, then dealt a quick three outs in bottom of the fifth which included a heaving strikeout from leadoff hitter Braden Penny which left a man on base in scoring position. Going into the sixth inning it was clear the Bears were carrying the momentum.

Elrod struck out two Tellico Plains’ batters, before issuing a base on balls and giving up a pair of singles. Gage Fairbanks stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded, two men out and the tying run on first. struck out looking, leaving three men on base and dashing Tellico’s chance at a win.

In the bottom of the sixth the game was basically sealed on a triple by Elrod, followed by a double from Camden Penny that Elrod, making the game 8-4 with one inning to play.

Tellico Plains made things interesting in the seventh after Ben Edwards got on base from a walk, he was then brought home by a double from Cameron Coleman. Elrod managed to compose himself, then closed out the game with two strikeouts on the last three batters giving the Panthers the win.

TELLICO PLAINS     120 010 1     5 – 11 – 1  
SALE CREEK           700 001 x     8 – 16 – 4 

Edwards, Scoggins and Elliott; Penny, Elrod and Hillian   

District 4A All District Team:
Sale Creek - Braden Penny, Jakob Elrod, Drew Hillian, Camden Penny, Seth Hodge
Tellico Plains - Bo Elliott, Gaige Fairbanks, Ben Edwards, Jase Lynn
CSAS - Ethan Porterfield, Ben Blackburn, Matt Luse
Lookout Valley - Christian Chandler, Jocob Winchester
Copper Basin - Dawson Worthy


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