CHARLESTON, Tenn. — Overcoming a two-run deficit, Walker Valley rallied past Rhea County for the second straight game, Wednesday evening at Mike Turner Field.
"Our bats finally decided to come along," declared head coach Wes Anderson as his Mustangs pulled away for a 6-3 victory in the middle game of the District 5-4A three-game series. "Great at bats up and down the lineup.
"You could just feel a major sigh and confidence boost when Titus (Torbett) got that first two-RBI hit (to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning).
"We had earlier opportunities, but couldn’t come away with any, and then after that hit we started living it a bit," he assessed.
"Gotta get tomorrow too. Finish the week," Coach Anderson added of tonight's final game of the key league series, back on the Walker Valley diamond.
The Mustangs (11-8, 2-0 District 5-4A) will travel to Hixson Friday evening looking for revenge after falling to the Wildcats 5-4 last week.
MUSTANGS 6, EAGLES 3: A game-opening single by Casen Kinney, and error, a batter hit by a pitch and a ground out gave Rhea County (4-11, 0-2) to quick lead.
The boys from Evensville tacked on second score in the top of the third when Kinney and Reese Pendergrass opened the at bat with back-to-back singles. After Kinney swiped third base, he came home on a sacrifice fly by Corydon Butler.
The home team finally got going in the bottom of the third when Hayden Harrison and Owen Sneed drew consecutive one-out walks. After a wild pitched moved the runners up a base an infield pop up notched the second out.
The left-handed swinging Torbett stepped into the box and on the second pitch smoked a line drive down the right field line to plate both teammates.
A two-bagger by Zander Neuendorf to open the bottom of the fourth kept the ball rolling and Micah Stone bunted him over to third base.
Four straight singles by Gavin Turnbough, Cason Cunningham, Harrison and Sneed, plus a sac fly by Milligan commit Michael Pledge put the game's final four Herd runs on the board to secure the victory.
Rhea County was able to complete the circle on more time in the top of the sixth as J Schmitt ripped a one-out double and was able to score on the second Mustang miscue of the night a few moments later.
Asher Panni (2-0, 1.08 ERA, .462 WHIP) came on to pitch the fourth and fifth frame, earning the victory by not giving up a hit, but did allow a trio of free passes.
Braxton Davis worked the final two frames to get the save, striking out three, while allowing just one hit and a walk.
Walker Valley batters only struck out twice and took advantage of seven free passes. The Herd's half dozen hits were spread among as many batters.
Kinney went 2-for-2 and "walked the line" to pace the Eagles.
GAME SUMMARY
District 5-4A
Wednesday, April 2
at Mike Turner Field
Rhea County 101 001 0 — 3 4 1
Walker Valley 002 400 x — 6 6 2
WP: Asher Panni (2-0, 1.08 ERA, .462 WHIP) 2 IP, 1 Ks, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 0 hits, 0 ER. LP: Jim Cunningham 1.2 IP, 0 K, 0 BB, 3 hits, 2 ER. Save: Braxton Davis 2 IP, 3 Ks, 1 BB, 1 hit, 0 ER. 2B: Jax Schmitt (RC); Zander Neuendorf (WV). RBI: Charlie Ives, Corydon Butler (RC); Titus Torbett 2, Cason Cunningham, Gavin Turnbow, Owen Sneed, Michael Pledge (WV). HERD HIGHLIGHTS: Sneed 1-1, 3 BB, RBI, RS; Torbett 1-4, 2 RBI; Hayden Harrison 1-2, BB, 2 RS; Cunningham 1-3, RBI, RS; Turnbow 1-3, RBI; Neuendorf 1-3, 2B, RS. RECORDS: Rhea County 4-11, 0-2 District 5-4A; Walker Valley 11-8, 2-0 District 5-4A.