The difference in Signal Mountain’s sectional game against DeKalb Co. was a fourth inning double from first baseman Hunter “Honda” Davis. Two runs scored off Davis’ fence rattling bomb gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead, the game ended with that same score two innings later.
Pitching was the theme of the night with aces from both squads keeping the bats at bay. Starting on the mound for Signal Mountain was Sam Witherspoon, who struck out the first three DeKalb Co. batters in the top of the first inning.
Starting opposite Witherspoon for the Tigers was Patrick Cantrell. The lefty wasn’t as dominate in the first inning, allowing two hits, but the result was the same and the second inning started with a score of 0-0.
Witherspoon stayed hot into the second, this time striking out two and popping out the third. Cantrell kept up with his competition and delivered a quick three and out of his own. Cantrell caught a line drive hit straight at him, turned and tagged out the runner on second, ending the inning 0-0 with a double play.
DeKalb Co. first baseman Dexter Emberton was hit by a pitch to start things off in the third. He then made his way to second after a bunt from Aiden Curtis, the catcher. Two batters later leadoff Kolter Kilgore hit a grounder to third which was overthrown to first base. The error allowed Emberton to score and it allowed the Tigers to take a 1-0 lead.
Signal Mountain immediately answered back with a score of its own in the third. Cantrell struck out the first two Eagles he faced in the inning, but the next two hit singles. Finally, short stop Nathanial Dace struck a line drive straight at Cantrell, the ball bounced at a strange angle off the pitcher’s leg and the runner at second got around to score. The score was tied 1-1 but Signal Mountain left two men in scoring position.
In the fourth inning DeKalb Co. returned the favor by leaving two of its own men in scoring position. Witherspoon walked back to back batters, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize, and the score remained 1-1.
In the fourth inning the Eagles put two men on base again with two singles. Cantrell collected himself and dealt one strikeout before popping out the next two batters. Cantrell’s night ended after the fourth inning with three strikeouts.
DeKalb picked up its third hit off Witherspoon in the fifth inning, but they failed to make anything else happen at the plate. Dexter Emberton took the mound for DeKalb Co. in the fifth inning and Signal Mountain took advantage.
The Eagles hit a single and two doubles, including Hunter Davis’ 240-foot rip. Two runs scored, and Signal Mountain took their first lead of the night 3-1. The big hit was a clear momentum swinger, the Signal Mountain fans roared to life and the Eagle’s dugout chatter increased.
“My senior pitcher went out their and mixed things up,” Signal Mountain Head Coach Josh Gandy said about what he liked the most about his team’s win. “That and getting clutch hits from guys like Hunter Davis.”
In the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs DeKalb Co. left fielder Grayson Hendrix had the opportunity to make things interesting, but he was thrown out at first base to end the inning.
Signal Mountain didn’t score any runs in the sixth inning and Witherspoon walked off the mound to cheers in the seventh inning, he had thrown seven strike outs. Ben Timblin came on in relief and did his job. The Eagles advance in the 2021 TSSAA Baseball Tournament after beating DeKalb Co. 3-1.
“This tournament is knock-down drag-out,” Coach Gandy said. “You have to have talent and luck to win it, hopefully we get both.”
DEKALB CO . 001 000 0 – 1 3 2
SIGNAL MTN 001 020 x – 3 11 1
Cantrell, Emberton (5), Knowles (7) and Curtis; Witherspoon, Timblin (7) and Giles