Warriors run-rule Cleveland during Scott Dean Memorial
KNOXVILLE — Christian Academy of Knoxville got a little offensive Friday afternoon, April 13. And it resulted in a victory.
The Warriors pounded out 13 hits as they notched a 16-6 six-inning win versus Cleveland at home during annual Scott Dean Memorial Baseball Tournament.
CAK also took advantage of some defensive miscues by the Blue Raiders.
However, “We weren’t good on the mound,” Warriors head coach Tommy Pharr said. “But we got some big hits. Our offense really bailed us out today.”
Down 1-0 early, the Warriors (17-8) scored five times in the bottom of the second as they were able to take advantage of three Cleveland errors.
Jake Tate walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third when Cole Campbell doubled.
Tate scored when a pick-off attempt sailed into the outfield, knotting the score 1-1. Campbell scored the go-ahead run when a return throw to third went awry.
Garrett Breeden added a two-run single and the Warriors picked up another run on another error.
“They gave us a few things and we were able to take advantage of them,” Pharr said. “Garrett had a big hit.”
Cleveland head coach Preston Scoggins said the second inning really changed the face of the game. “You can’t give a team like CAK extra outs in an inning and there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “They’re a great team and they’re a defending state champion for a reason.”
The Warriors extended their advantage to 8-1 with three runs in the bottom of the third.
Breeden and Cooper Jackson had RBI singles while Conner Jurek knocked in a run when he grounded out.
The Blue Raiders scored two runs in the top of the fourth as CAK’s defense got a little shaky with two errors.
But the Warriors all but put things out of reach in the fifth. Jesse Osborne clubbed a three-run homer and Tate drove in a run with a single to make the score 12-3.
“Our pitching struggled and we didn’t play good defense,” Osborne said. “But we picked it up with our offense and we were able to get some big hits.”
Up 12-6, CAK ended things in the sixth on a two-run single by Keener and a two-run double by Hunter Loyd.
