CLEVELAND, Tenn. — A one-out Collin Stuart single in the bottom of the seventh allowed Cleveland to walk off a victory over District 5-4A rival Walker Valley after trailing by four runs Monday, at Bill Talley Stadium.
After a trio of scoreless innings to start the Mustangs galloped ahead with a four-run fourth but the host Blue Raiders cut the deficit in half in the fifth and then came up with a trio of trips around the bases for the 5-4 win in the game's final at bat.
Under the new three-game series format, weather permitting the teams will square off again Tuesday evening at Mike Turner Field, then again Thursday back to Raider Field.
On Friday, Walker Valley (4-10, 0-1 District 5-4A) will travel to county-rival Bradley Central, while Cleveland (9-7, 1-0) will travel to Georgia for a twinbill against Heritage and Catoosa.
Starting pitchers Braxton Smith (WV) and Andrew Enger (CHS) looked strong for the first three frames, giving up just two hits and a walk, plus one and a free pass, respectively.
In the top of the fourth, Carson Minnix led off with a single for just the second Mustang hit, plus Michael Pledge walked the line, but after Wenger notched a second strike out, it looked like he would escape with no harm.
However, a grounder to third base by Titus Torbett was booted allowing Minnix to get the goose egg off the scoreboard.
An infield hit by Jordan Smith loaded the sack, before No.
9 Mustang batter Satchel Cole was plunked to force in another run. Felipe Castellanos delivery a big two-run single to cap the Herd scoring.
Cleveland came back for a pair of two-out scores in the bottom of the fifth after Tyler Gardner opened the at bat with a single, before Virginia Tech signee Mycah Jordan drilled a triple to centerfield. He then scored on a Mustang miscue.
Still trailing by a pair to Evan Liner and Jordan, the Raiders took advantage of a pair of walks sandwiched around a strikeout to start the bottom of the seventh.
Nolan Copeland, who stroked a two-out triple in the opening inning, stepped in the box and once again came through with a two-run double to even the score.
After an intentional walk to Jack McBrayer, Wegner was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Stuart's game winner, which he drilled into centerfield to plate Copeland to set off the Cleveland celebration.
Taking the hill to stop the Mustang rally in the fourth, Gardner picked up the pitching victory, going 3.1 innings, strike out three, walking two and scattering five hits.
"Good team win. Walker Valley has a tremendous team," commented first-year Raider head coach Brent Tucker. "Tyler Gardner did a great job on the mound."
While Copeland was the lone Cleveland bat with two hits, which led to a pair of RBI and a score himself, Jordan reached twice with his double and a walk before scoring twice and driving in one. McBrayer earned a trio of free passes.
Jordan Smith, Castellanos and Minnix each knocked out a couple of hits.
Carson-Newman signee Braxton Smith tossed five innings with eight Ks, a trio of walks and just one earned run.
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WALKER VALLEY
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0
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0
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0
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4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
4
|
8
|
1
|
|
CLEVELAND
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0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
-
|
5
|
6
|
1
|
B. Smith, Stansel (6), Phillips (7) and J. Smithl Wenger, Gardner (4( and Tippens.
WP: Gardner LP: Stansell
Records: Walker Valley 4-10 (0-1); Cleveland 9-7 (1-0).
(Email Joe Cannon at joe.cannon@clevelandbanner.com)