Down to his last strike senior Jonas Ernest delivered victory and a second straight TSSAA Sectional berth for Cleveland with a solid single up the middle to plate a teammate from second base with the game-winning run late Sunday night, at Bill Talley Stadium.
On a day that started almost an 11 hours earlier with a disappointing 2-1 loss to Bradley Central in the Region 3-4A championship game, the District 5 champion Blue Raiders celebrated a 5-4 victory over Ooltewah to continue their season.
Cleveland (27-11) heads to Murfreesboro for a second straight year for the best-of-3 Sectional playoffs, this time traveling to Region 4 champion Blackman (24-9).
Games times for the event are yet to be set, but must take place between Wednesday and Saturday.
RAIDERS 5, OWLS 4: With Ooltewah (22-13) coming off a final at bat rally to knock off Walker Valley in a five-hour marathon elimination game, Cleveland wasted little time putting the visitors in a big hole.
After a scoreless opening inning, the Raiders put up a 4-spot in the bottom of the second to take command.
Junior Caden Tippens opened the rally with a base on balls before senior Charley Atha stroked a one-out single and junior Owen Goglio was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Brayden Harris, also an 11th-grader, plated the first run when his ground ball to third base was "booted."
After Atha scored on a passed ball, District 5-4A Player of the Year River Briggs brought home Goglio with the third score with a sacrifice fly.
A single by sophomore Sam Coleman moved Harris to third before he too came in on a passed ball.
Neither team could get anything going in the third frame, but Ooltewah heated up for a trio of runs in the top of the fourth.
A one-out walk to Luke Parr, plus back-to-back two-out singles by Cade Richardson and Jackson Riggins packed the sacks before Drew Wood cleared them with a double to center field to close the gap to a single score.
After five straight scoreless team at bats, the Owls were able to even the score in the top of the seventh.
One-out singles by JT Trent and Gavin Fields sandwiched around a walk to Brock Smallen once again loaded the bases, with Asa McMillon getting the RBI on a fielder's choice grounder.
Despite having had their 4-0 advantage erased, the Raiders didn't panic, but took advantage off an opening base on balls to Harris.
Braelyn Pratt came on as a pinch runner for Harris before Briggs bunted him up to second base. After Coleman "took one for the team," a strikeout, Ernest stepped to the plate for his heroics.
After fouling off the first pitch and missing on a swing at the second, the senior clean up hitter ripped a single to center field, allowing Pratt to score and the home team to celebrate.
The Raiders had just four hits off a pair of Ooltewah pitchers, but took advantage of seven free passes and the game's only error.
Coleman reached three times with a hit, plus he was "plunked" twice, while Atha did the same with a single, walk and was hit with a pitch.
Ooltewah knocked out a half dozen hits, including Wood going 2-3 with his 3-RBI double, plus he drew a walk. Richardson reached base thrice as well with a hit and a pair of free passes.
GAME SUMMARY
Region 3-4A
Tournament
Runner-up Game
Sunday, May 11
at Bill Talley Stadium
Ooltewah 000 300 1 — 4 6 1
Cleveland 040 000 1 — 5 4 0
WP: Ethan Guy 1.1 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 hits, 1 ER. LP: JT Trent 4.2 IP, 7 Ks, 2 BB, 3 HBP, 1 hit, 1 ER. 2B: Drew Wood (O). RBI: Wood 3, Asa McMillon (O); Brayden Harris, River Briggs, Jonas Ernest (C). RECORDS: Ooltewah 22-13; Cleveland 27-11.