Dodging rain drops, District 5-4A champion Cleveland exploded for eight runs in its final at bat to blow past District 6 runner-up Ooltewah in a three-hour marathon Thursday evening in the Region 3 opener, at Bill Talley Stadium.
In one of the wildest games of the season, the teams combined for 21 hits, 19 free passes, with eight hurlers taking the mound, plus five fielding errors, leading to 20 total runs.
"Boys continued to battle after a rough start," proclaimed Raider head coach Brent Tucker after the 14-6 victory.
"Total team effort. Proud of the guys."
Matching their win total from last year's substate run, the Blue Raiders (26-10) advance to the championship game at noon Sunday against the victor of Friday afternoon's "County Conflict" District 6 winner Bradley Central (18-16) and Walker Valley (16-16), the District 5 runner up.
The schedule for the region tournament had to be modified due to the three Bradley County schools having graduations Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so the final three region games will take place Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.
The Owls (21-12) will take on Friday's loser in an elimination game at 3:30 Sunday afternoon, with the winner advancing to play the championship game loser for the other TSSAA Sectional berth at 6 p.m.
The best-of-3 substate series will take place sometime between May 13-17 at the home of the region champs.
RAIDERS 14, OWLS 6: After Ooltewah was set down in order in the game's initial at bat, Cleveland used a double steal to plate a score in the bottom of the first inning.
District 5-4A Player of the Year River Briggs opened the rally by working a base on balls from the Owl starter before sophomore Sam Coleman stroked a single.
After a strikeout and a fielder's choice erased Coleman, with runners on the corners senior Jonas Ernest made a slow attempt to steal second base, purposely getting caught in a rundown, while Briggs broke for the plate. Ernest got under the eventual tag and was safe at second just after the run scored.
The District 6 runner-up Owls answered by getting their first seven batters on base in the top of the second, getting five of them all the way around the circuit.
After Gavin Fields opened with a single, Asa McMillon laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first went down the right field line, putting both runners in scoring position. Luke Parr was then "plunked" to jam the sacks, setting the stage for Caleb Henson to drive in a pair with a single.
Cade Richardson and Jackson Riggins each plated a teammate with a back-to-back one-base knocks. Drew Wood then capped the rally with a run-scoring fielder's choice for the first out of the inning.
Undaunted, Cleveland started to chip away at the deficit with a sole score when senior Charley Atha opened the bottom of the second with a double and then came around on a two-out single by Briggs.
With an around-the-horn double play able to erase an opening walk, the Owls once again went down in order in the top of the third.
Junior Collin Stuart singled to open the bottom of the second and then went all the way to third on a sac bunt by Ernest. The hustle play was rewarded when Caden Tippens lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him in.
Ooltewah got a pair of base runners on in the top of the fourth thanks to a walk and a "plunk," but couldn't get them around the bases to score.
Atha got things going again for the home team with his second two-bagger to open the bottom of the fourth, leading to Cleveland retaking the lead with a trio of scores.
After a walk to junior Owen Goglio, Jayden Bates got an infield hit on a perfectly placed bunt toward the Owl shortstop. With the next two batters striking out and popping into an infield field situation, it look as if the Raiders were going to be able to cash in.
However, Stuart evened the score with a two-run single and after a walk to Ernest, Bates was able to race home on an Owl error for the lead.
Both teams sent four batters to the dish to no avail in the fifth frame before the visitors knotted the score once again in the top of the sixth when Riggins laced a two-out double before Drew Wood singled him home.
With an even ballgame, the hosts got some help from a half dozen free passes to go with four hits while batting around and plating seven runs before the first out of the bottom of the sixth was recorded.
Briggs "walked the line" to get the rally started before Coleman singled and Stuart drew a base on balls to load the bases. While Ernest was also drawing a walk, Briggs raced home on a passed ball.
With the sacks still jammed, Tippens ripped a single to plate Stuart, but a miscue by the the Owl outfielder, which allowed Coleman and Ernest to circle the bases as well, while Tippens ended up on third base.
After Roane State signee Tyler Garder "took one for the team," Atha singled to bring in a run and Goglio did the same to plate two more.
The merry-go-round didn't stop as Ephram Kyle was hit by a pitch and Briggs drew his second walk of the inning to once again load the bags.
After a fielder's choice cut down a Raider at the plate and a strikeout, the final run of the night once came from the seventh free pass of the rally as Ernest worked an 0-2 count into a RBI-base on balls.
While Ooltewah was able to get a runner onboard in the top of the seventh, its other three batters made outs to end the three-hour marathon.
For the victors, Atha went 3-for-4, with a pair of doubles, drove in a run and scored twice. Briggs helped out with a hit and a trio of free passes, before scoring thrice and notching a RBI.
Stuart and Goglio both reached three times and drove in a couple of teammates and combining to cross the plate thrice.
Ernest and Gardner both drew a trio of "freebies" and scored once, with the former adding a RBI.
Coleman knocked out a pair of hits and scored, while plated two runs with a hit and walk to his credit. Bates reached on an error and had a hit before scoring twice.
The third of four Cleveland hurlers, Cooper Debusk got the win despite giving up a pair of hits and an earned run in the top of the sixth, benefitting from his teammates exploding for the 8-spot in the bottom of the frame.
Riggins had a double, single and drew a walk, plus drove in a run and scored once for the visitors.
Henson was 2-for-3 with a couple of "ribbies" and completed the circle once, while Fields reached twice with a hit and a base on balls before scoring once.
GAME SUMMARY
Region 3-4A
Tournament
Opening round
Thursday, May 8
at Bill Talley Stadium
Ooltewah 050 001 0 — 6 7 3
Cleveland 111 308 x — 14 11 2
WP: Cooper Debusk 1 IP, 0 K, 0 BB, 2 hits, 1 ER. LP: JT Trent 2.0 IP, 3 Ks, 7 BB, 3 hits, 5 ER. 2B: Jackson Riggins (O); Charley Atha 2 (C). RBI: Drew Wood 2, Caleb Henson 2, Cade Richardson, Riggins (O); Collin Stuart 2, Owen Goglio 2, Caden Tippens 2, River Briggs, Jonas Ernest, Atha (C). RECORDS: Ooltewah 21-12; Cleveland 26-10.