CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Showing why it's the top seed in the District 5-4A Baseball Tournament, Cleveland dominated Rhea County in the opening game of the semifinal series opener, at Bill Talley Stadium.
Getting one-hit shutout from junior Owen Goglio on the mound, plus putting together nine hits and committing just one field miscue, the Blue Raider opened the defense of last year's league crown with an 8-0 victory.
The teams will battle again Friday evening at 6 in the best-of-3 series, plus will play at the same time Saturday, if needed, with the Raiders able to advance to the championship game with a victory in either game.
After Goglio set the visitors down in order in the game's opening at bat, his teammates gave him a three-run cushion to work with in the bottom of the first.
Back-to-back base on balls to senior River Briggs and sophomore Sam Coleman set the stage before junior Collin Stuart drove in the game's first run with a single to left field.
Two batters later junior Caden Tippens went the opposite way for a RBI-hit.
Senior Charley Atha brought home the final run of the rally with a ground out, that plated Stuart.
After Goglio issued the first of just two walks on the night to open the top of the second, he mowed down the next three Eagles on strikes, two looking.
With another 1-2-3 inning, plus opening the top of the fourth with another K, Goglio gave up his only hit of the night, a double by Corydon Butler, but he was left stranded after a foul pop up and yet another strikeout.
The Raider bats cranked back up in the bottom of the fourth with four hits and a trio of free passes leading to a 5-spot.
After the leadoff batter struck out, Goglio was "plunked" before junior Jayden Bates "walked the line."
Briggs followed with a run-scoring single and Coleman loaded the bases with a one-base knock. Stuart worked Rhea starter Alex Latshaw for a base on balls to plate Bates.
Senior Jonas Ernest got in on the hit parade with a RBI-single before Tippens brought in the final two scores with a double to center field.
Goglio once again set the visitors down in order in the top of the fifth and overcame the game's only error by a teammate to open the sixth with a back-to-back line outs to Stuart at short and a fly ball to Briggs in center.
Although Cleveland got a pair of runners on in the bottom of the sixth they couldn't get them home, leaving nine "ducks on the pond" on the night.
Facing just 25 batters and throwing 108 pitches in the contest, Goglio notched the final two of his 10 strikeouts, but also gave up a two-out walk to close out the shutout.
The Raider ace improved his record to 6-2 on the campaign, lowering his earned run average to 1.95 and his WHIP to 1.37. Goglio has 62 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.
Tippens went 3-for-3, with a double, plus he drew a walk, while driving in a trio of teammates. Briggs got on base all four times as well, with a pair of singles and two free passes, scoring twice and driving in a run.
Ernest went 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Stuart had a single and a walk, both of which drove in a score, plus he completed the circle once. Colemand completed the circuit twice after a single and a base on ball.
GAME SUMMARY
District 5-4A
Tournament
Semifinals
Thursday, May 1
Bill Talley Stadium
Rhea County 000 000 0 — 0 1 0
Cleveland 300 500 x — 8 9 1
WP: Owen Goglio 7 IP, 10 Ks, 2 BB, 1 hit, 0 ER. LP: Alex Latshaw 3.1 IP, 4 Ks, 5 BB, 2 HBP, 7 hits, 8 ER. 2B: Corydon Butler (RC); Caden Tippens (C). RBI: Rhea none; Tippens 3, Collin Stuart 2, River Briggs, Jonas Ernest, Charley Atha (C). RECORDS: Rhea County 9-19; Cleveland 23-8.