The defending state champion McCallie baseball team fell in their effort at a repeat as CPA defeated the Blue Tornado, 1-0, in a DII-AA elimination game on Wednesday at Wilson Central High School.
The Lions pushed across the game’s only run in the second inning and made it stand through five more stanzas and was backed up by the no-hit combination thrown by the Lions’ starter London Humphreys and Eli Dickey. Dickey threw six innings, facing 22 batters and striking out eight with five walks.
With McCallie’s Johnson on the mound CPA’s Caleb Webster drew a walk and following a single by Brock Beddingfiield, advanced to third and then raced home on a two out single by Humphreys. Johnson then induced a pop out to the infield to retire the side.
The Blue Tornado threatened in the top of the fourth when Hudson Calhoun and Hayden Choate drew two out walks. The inning ended on a foul out to the Lions’ first baseman.
McCallie threatened again in the sixth as CPA pitcher Dickey gave up one out walks to Sebastian Leinberger and Reece Jordan before settling down and getting the final two outs of the inning. All in all, McCallie left seven runners on base.
The Big Blue loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on a walk to Zach Porter , followed by Parker Davidson reaching on catcher’s interference. J. Michael Pierce was hit by a pitch to put a Tornado on every base before the game ended on a strikeout.
McCallie's Johnson and Chris Moore combined for a three hitter in the loss.
MCCALLIE 000 000 0 – 0 0 1
CPA 010 000 x – 1 3 1
Johnson, Moore (6) and Porter; Humphreys, Dickey (2) and McCluskey.
(Email Prep Sports Editor Dennis Norwood at dennisnorwood56@gmail.com)