MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Earning a little payback for a double-digit shutout loss during an early season tournament, Cleveland stunned Region 4-4A champ Blackman in the opening round of the TSSAA Sectional best-of-3 series Thursday evening, in Murfreesboro.
After having fallen 10-0 in a Spring Break event on the same field, the Blue Raiders prevented a potential game-tying run on the final play to secure a 2-1 victory over the Blaze.
Carrying a 2-0 lead into the game's final at bat, the Cleveland gave up a two-out run and the Blaze tried to even the game on the same single to right field, but Raider junior Owen Goglio's throw was right on target to catcher Caden Tippens, who got the tag down as the runner was sliding into the plate.
"Owens to Tippens play at the end was incredible way to end the game," proclaimed second-year Cleveland head coach Brent Tucker.
"Tyler (Gardner) was incredible on the mound. Offensively we did a great job of putting ball in play.
"We have to wake up and get ready to play tomorrow," he added.
With a berth in next week's Spring Fling on the line, the teams will gather for Game 2 of the series Friday afternoon at 2, with an "if necessary game" planned for Saturday at the same time.
RAIDERS 2, BLAZE 1: Cleveland (28-11) picked up solo scores in the first and sixth frames to hold the slim advantage going into the final frame.
A one-out single by sophomore Sam Coleman before back-to-back walks to junior Collin Stuart and senior Jonas Ernest set the stage in the top of the first.
Tippens picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Coleman.
What turned out to be the game-winning run came when Tippens reached on a Blaze error with one out in the top of the sixth.
Courtesy runner Braylen Pratt came on and was bunted up a base by Gardner before senior Charley Atha also reached on a Blackman miscue, which allowed Pratt to come around to score.
Cleveland got three runners aboard in the top of the seventh, but couldn't get any all the way around with one caught stealing and a pair of ground outs quelled the threat.
After Blackman's Austen Leban opened the bottom of the seventh with a single, he was erased on a fielder's choice. Gardner then got the next batter to pop out on the infield.
The lone Raider error allowed Spencer Dobratz to reach before Max Wilcox jammed the sacks with a single.
Mitchell Cunninghan then laced a line drive hit into right to score McGuire Bolding, who had reached on the fielder's choice, but Goglio came up firing to prevent the score and seal the victory.
Gardner, who is headed to play for Roane State, went the distance on the hill, striking out four, while scattering a trio of free passes and five hits, but no earned run.
Blaze ace Andrew Monson went 6.2 innings, with three Ks, three "freebies" and giving up seven hits and one earned run.
Coleman led the Raider offensive attack, going 3-for-4 at the dish, plus stealing a base and scoring a run.
Stuart and senior River Briggs both reached on a single and a free pass, while Atha added a one-base knock to his reaching on an error. Brayden Harris rounded out the Cleveland hits with a single.
Blackman, ranked 18th in the current Maxpreps poll, slipped to 27-10 on the season.
GAME SUMMARY
TSSAA Class 4A
Sectionals
best-of-3
Game 1
Thursday, May 15
at Murfreesboro
Cleveland 100 001 0 — 2 7 1
Blackman 000 000 1 — 1 5 2
WP: Tyler Garner 7 IP, 4 Ks, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 5 hits, 0 ER. LP: Andrew Monson 6.2 IP, 3 Ks, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 6 hits, 1 ER. RECORDS: Cleveland 28-11; Blackman 27-10.