ATHENS, Tenn. – The McMinn County Cherokees are headed to the first state baseball tournament in school history thanks to a season which had them prepared to handle yet another close game in a crucial situation.
Matt Ray’s boys had been involved with 12 one-run affairs this year, so when push came to shove in a tight one, the Cherokees were more than willing to put their lessons to work, edging visiting Stewarts Creek in a 2-1 State Sectional here Friday night.
“This was just a huge game for our program.
When you play in so many of these types of game, you can’t help but have a leg up when you see the next one. It pays off. We were very comfortable in a close game, and we had guys who were comfortable when they had to produce. It was just a really great night for our entire community,” said Ray after the win.
Stewarts Creek (23-13) finally broke through on Cherokee ace Andrew Ronne in the fifth inning despite not getting a hit. Josh Dudley worked a leadoff walk, and went to second a passed ball. A fly out moved him over to third and Dudley scored on a wild pitch.
McMinn knotted it right back up, though, in the bottom of the frame when Will Grimmett worked a one-out walk and Will Harris moved pinch runner Jayden Miller to third on a single to center. Hayden Frank then lofted a sac fly to center to make it 1-1.
McMinn (20-12-1) got eh eventual game winner in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Mason Roderick stroked a two-out double and leadoff hitter Andrew Beavers reached on an error at third. Mr. Clutch, Grimmett followed with his second game-winning hit in a row, lacing a ground ball single to left to bring courtesy runner Hunter McDonald home.
“Grimmett has been a clutch hitter his entire career here. He came through again. He got off to a slow start this year, and then had shoulder problems which hampered him at the plate, but he’s a big dog, and he did what big dogs do,” said Ray of the hit.
Grimmett had the big two-run double in the region final win over Bradley this past Wednesday.
Ronne, the ETSU-bound pitcher, had turned the game over the Ollie Akens in the sixth, but re-entered the game to pitch the seventh. He hit the leadoff hitter and committed an error on the ensuing bunt to put the tying run at second and go-ahead run at first. The hard-throwing right-hander then struck out the next two and got a a fly out in foul territory to Frank in right field to end it.
“It was a little interesting, but again, just a big situation with a big situation guy on the mound. I’d say we had the biggest crowd since I’ve been here at McMinn for the game, and to have that kind of support is amazing. We are a small community, so this is a big one. I’ve already gotten about 100 text messages,” Ray added.
Ronne wound up striking out 10 and six different Cherokees had hits. The Red Hawks were able to muster just two hits off Ronne in the game and four total for the game.
McMinn will find out its state opponent on Saturday when the draw is made.
Siegel 2, Bradley 0: Jack Nedrow allowed just one hit and the Stars were able to push across two runs in the fifth frame to end the Bears season one step short of the state tournament. Bradley ace Cooper Casteel was equally effective, allowing just four hits, but three of them came in the fifth.
Brody Ballou singled with one out to left before Ronald Whitmore walked before both runners advanced on a double steal. A bunt back to Casteel was fielded and thrown to the plate, but not in time as Ballou scored for a 1-0 lead. Braxton Baird then rifled a single to right field to score just before Iverson Vasquez’s throw to the plate. Ethan Lamberth did get the out on the relay to third to prevent more damage when Moss singled on the next pitch. Casteel got the final out on a fly ball.
Nedrow retired the first 13 hitters before Aiden McClary singled a line drive to center, but it was the only base runner he allowed as he set down the final eight, striking out nine total in a complete-game 75-pitch gem. The Bears end their season at 22-13 while the Red Hawks will take a 31-7 mark into Murfreesboro next week.
STEWARTS CREEK 000 010 0 – 1 4 4
MCMINN COUNTY 000 011 x – 2 6 1
Wooten, Saiyasak (5) Newsom (5) and Dymond; Ronnee, Akens (6), Ronnee (7) and Roderick.
BRADLEY CENTRAL 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
SIEGEL 000 020 x – 2 4 0
Casteel and Lamberth; Nedrow and Cauthron.