CHARLESTON, Tenn. — East Hamilton blew into Mike Turner Field and put a sour note on Walker Valley's Senior Night festivities.
Rallying for four runs in their final two at bats the Hurricanes came away with an 11-8 victory, thanks in big part to five Mustangs miscues.
Both teams wrap up regular season district play this week, looking to improve their league tournament seeding.
Walker Valley (12-13, 3-3 District 5-4A) will tangle with McMinn County (13-12, 4-2) Monday and Thursday in Athens, plus Tuesday at Mike Turner Field.
East Hamilton (13-12, 3-3 District 6-4A) will battle archrival Ooltewah (14-8-1, 4-2), Monday and Thursday on the Hurricanes' home diamond, plus Tuesday at Bud Ball Field.
HURRICANES 11, MUSTANGS 8: East Ham got off to a quick start, blowing into Mike Turner Field for five runs in the game's opening at bat.
Peyton Harris started the rally with a double and then swipes third before Mason Wolcott was hit by a pitch. After a passed ball allowed Harris to score and Wolcott to get to second before stealing third, Grayson Maddox drove home the second run with a ground out.
Back-to-back walks to Davis Whitener and Miguel Fernandez, plus a one-base knock from Liam Hughes jammed the sacks. Whitener came home on a wild pitch before the other two base runners scored on an error.
Walker Valley got back one of the runs in the bottom of the second when Milligan signee Michael Pledge laced a one-out double before back-to-back bunts by Hayden Harrison (for a single) and Cooper Cantrell (a sacrifice) brought him in.
The Hurricanes picked a pair of scores in the top of the third when with two outs Hughes drew a base on balls before Gavin Husky doubled him home. After Husky swiped third, Luke Farris followed with a RBI-single.
Down 7-1, the Mustangs exploded for seven-run rally in the bottom of the fourth frame to take the lead.
Cleveland State signee Jordan Smith kicked off the big rally with a two-bagger as the first five batters reached base. After a walk to Pledge, Harrison stroked a single, but a Herd courtesy runner was thrown out at the plate on the play.
Cantrell then "walked the line" to load the sacks before Gavin Turnbough drove home Pledge with a one-base knock.
After a pop up for the second out, Walker Valley got four straight hits — RBI singles by Owen Sneed and Brody Ownby, plus a three-run double by Maryville signee Titus Torbett and and a one-base hit by Smith.
Torbett scored the final run of the rally on a throwing error during rallying ending strikeout.
Neither teams scored in the fifth inning, but the visitors came back with two in each of their final at bats.
In the sixth, Wolcott reached on a dropped third strike, stole second, moved to third and scored on wild pitches. Maddox, who had drew a walk, also completed the circuit on a one-out single by Fernandez.
Husky started East Ham's seventh inning rally by dropping down a bunt and advancing to second error before Farris singled him home. Farris then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on another Mustang miscue.
Farris was the only 'Cane batter with two hits, while Fernandez stroked a single and drew a pair of free passes.
Whitener also worked Mustang hurlers for a couple of base on balls, plus earned the pitching win, tossing the final two innings without allowing a hit or run.
Ownby went 3-for-4 for the hosts, driving in a run and scoring once, while Smith and Harrison had a pair of hits each.
The fifth of a half dozen WV pitchers, Smith took the hard-luck loss, going the fifth and sixth frames, striking out five and allowing just one hit, while giving out a pair of free passes and just one earned run.
GAME SUMMARY
Saturday, April 12
at Mike Turner Field
East Hamilton 502 002 2 — 11 8 1
Walker Valley 010 700 0 — 8 11 5
WP: Davis Whitener 2 IP, 2 Ks, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 hit, 0 ER. LP: Jordan Smith 2 IP, 5 Ks, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 hit, 1 ER. 2B: Peyton Harris, Gavin Husky (EH); Michael Pledge, Titus Torbett, Jordan Smith (WV). RBI: Luke Farris 2, Grayson Maddox, Miguel Fernandez, Husky (EH); Torbett 3, Cooper Cantrell, Owen Sneed, Brody Ownby, Gavin Turnbough (WV). RECORDS: East Hamilton 13-12, 3-3 District 5-4A; Walker Valley 12-12, 3-3 District 5-4A.