CHARLESTON, Tenn. — Weathering a couple of postponements, Cleveland and Walker Valley finally completed their key District 5-4A series Friday evening with the Blue Raiders taking the rubber game, at Mike Turner Field.
Getting a combined two-hot pitching effort to capture a 4-2 victory in the deciding game, lifted Cleveland into a tie with McMinn County (13-10, 4-2) atop the district race with just one week of regular season league play left.
Cleveland (17-7) will tangle with Rhea County (5-15, 1-5) Monday and Thursday at Bill Talley Stadium, plus Tuesday in Evensville, in an effort to secure the No.
1 seed for the upcoming district tournament.
Looking to pass the Tribe for the second seed, Walker Valley (12-12, 3-3) will tangle with McMinn County, Monday and Thursday in Athens, plus Tuesday at Mike Turner Field.
RAIDERS 4, MUSTANGS 2: Jumping on top quickly, Cleveland circled the bases twice in the game's opening at bat with a two-out single by Jonas Ernest getting the party started by playing Sam Coleman, who had walked and stole second.
After Ernest also swiped second, Caden Tippens followed with a double to center field to bring him in as well.
The Raiders doubled their lead in the top of the fourth when Charley Atha blasted a two-run shot over the left-field fence that also brought in Tyler Gardner, who had singled just a moment before.
Although Jayden Bates and River Briggs stroked back-to-back two-out singles, but they were left stranded when the final out was recorded.
After being stifled in their first four tries, the Mustangs finally got the goose egg off the bottom of the board in the fifth, scoring twice without benefit of a hit.
A opening base on balls to Zander Neuendorf and a one-out free pass to Cleveland State signee Jordan Smith, who had Walker Valley's only hits with singles in the first and third innings.
Smith, a catcher who has missed some recent games due to a nagging injury, was replaced by courtesy runner Cooper Henry before Maryville College signee Titus Torbett smoked a hard grounder and reached on an error that allowed Neuendorf to score.
After a fielder's choice recorded the second out, Henry was able to score on a passed ball during a strike out of the final Herd hitter of the half inning.
Combining on the strong Raider pitching effort, Gardner went the first three innings, allowing the two hits, but no runs to earn the victory.
Ethan Guy came on for 1.2 innings of no-hit ball, but he did walk four and both unearned runs were charged to him.
Collin Stuart came on for the final 2.1 inning, picking up a save, striking out three of the eight batters he faced, not allowing a hit, but he did "plunk" one.
Offensively, Cleveland collected eight hits, with two each from Gardner and Tippens, plus Atha drew a walk to go with his blast. Bates got on twice with a single and a base on balls, while Briggs and Ernest both had a hit.
The Raiders left eight "ducks on the pond," while Walker Valley had nine players reach base, but all but two were stranded.
GAME SUMMARY
District 5-4A
Friday, April 11
at Mike Turner Field
Cleveland 200 200 0 — 4 8 3
Walker Valley 000 020 0 — 2 2 1
WP: Tyler Gardner 3 IP, 1 K, 0 BB, 2 hit, 0 ER. LP: Michael Pledge 4 IP, 5 Ks, 2 BB, 6 hits, 4 ER. Save: Collin Stuart 2.1 IP 3 Ks, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 0 hits, 0 ER. HR: Charley Atha (C). 2B: Caden Tippens (C). RBI: Atha 2, Tippens, Jonas Ernest (C); WV none. RECORDS: Cleveland 17-8, 4-2 District 5-4A; Walker Valley 12-12, 3-3 District 5-4A.