CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Throwing strikes on more than 77% of his pitches, Bradley Central junior Tyler Cook out dueled fellow "ace" Titus Torbett to send Bradley Central to its seventh straight region championship game.
"Hard fought game by both teams and especially both pitchers," commented veteran Bear head coach Travis Adams after a lone unearned run in the opening inning was the difference the 1-0 victory over county rival Walker Valley, which saw the hurlers combined for 23 strikeouts Friday.
"Got to tip your cap to (Walker Valley senior) Titus (Torbett) on his performance, but Tyler Cook matched him with his complete-game shutout effort.
"We had a couple of chances to plate more runs, but didn’t execute.
At this point you take the win and move on to the next game and that’s what we are gonna do."
Walker Valley (16-17) will square off against District 6 runner-up Ooltewah (21-12) in an elimination game Sunday afternoon at 3:30, with the victor advancing to face the Bradley/Cleveland loser for the second region berth in the TSSAA Sectionals next week.
"Titus gave us another great outing on the mound," assessed Mustang wrangler Wes Anderson of Friday's heartbreaking loss. "It’s a shame that he’s not rewarded for how well he threw today. That’s how baseball goes sometimes.
"We had our opportunities offensively and we just weren’t able to get that elusive hit. It’s kinda been our 'M.O.' (modus operandi) all year — we’re doing good to get guys on, but have been unable to deliver in those pressure spots.
"Nothing to do other than fight," he said of Sunday's challenge. "Backs up against the wall, gotta battle our way back."
BEARS 1, MUSTANGS 0: After Cook opened the contest with back-to-back strikeouts and an infield pop up to set Walker Valley down in order, he worked Torbett for the Maryville College signee's lone walk with two out in the bottom of the frame.
Courtesy runner Paxton King took Cook's place on first base and swiped second base before Bear senior Carson Stott put a 3-2 pitch in play, but the ground ball was booted, allowing King to circle the bases on the error. Torbett answered by picking Stott off first base to end the inning.
Cook (6-1, 0.94 ERA, .783 WHIP) struck out five while sending the first eight Mustangs back to the dugout before No. 9 hitter Hayden Harrison stroked a two-out single in the third frame to break up the no-hit bid.
The big Bear righty finish with 13 Ks (57 in 38.1 IP this season) in 26 batters faced, allowing a half dozen hits, but no free passes while facing just 26 batters, firing 75 strikes in 97 pitches.
Torbett (7-3, 0.78 ERA, .917 WHIP) also faced 26, with 10 strikeouts (118 in 72 IP) and a trio of free passes in a 104-pitch performance, 66 of which were in the strike zone.
Bradley's first hit didn't come until senior Spane Bristol opened the bottom of the third with a single, followed by Nathan Thompson getting "plunked" and Cleveland State signee Jaxon Humble's one-base knock jamming the sacks.
Torbett bowed his back and the big lefty struck out the next three to strand the trio of Bear baserunners.
The Valley herd opened the top of the fourth with Owen Sneed and Brody Ownby beating out infield hits, but Cook responded with a couple of Ks and a fielder's choice ground out to end the threat.
Both "aces" set the opponents down 1-2-3 in the next two at bats before Bradley threatened again when Bristol and Humble sandwiched singles around a pop out, but to not avail as the Maryville College signee got out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground ball out.
Harrison stroked his second single of the day to start off the sixth frame, but after he was bunted up by Sneed and moved to third on a wild pitch, he was left on third as Cook struck out the final two batters.
Once again the Bears got a pair of baserunners on in the bottom of the sixth with a single by Stott, advanced to second and moved to third on a sac fly by his twin brother Colby Stott.
After Torbett notched his final K of the afternoon, Bronson Stone was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners before a ground ball ended the threat.
Back-to-back two-out singles by Micah Stone and Tyce Knouse gave the Herd hope in the top of the seventh, before Cook got the final Mustang batter to get nothing but air on his final three pitches for the win.
GAME SUMMARY
Region 3-4A
Tournament
Opening Round
Friday, May 9
at Bill Talley Stadium
Walker Valley 000 000 0 — 0 6 1
Bradley Central 100 000 x — 1 5 0
WP: Tyler Cook 7 IP, 13 Ks, 0 BB, 6 hits, 0 ER. LP: Titus Torbett 6 IP, 10 Ks, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 5 hits, 0 ER. RBI: none. RECORDS: Walker Valley 16-17; Bradley Central 18-16-1.