Navy Blue power on pitch, diamond
Winning streak continues as Buckner’s baseball Ads ensure yet another substate trip
Sometimes a good piece of hitting is all about placing the ball “where they ain’t,” as the old saying goes.
Sophomore Hunter Merrick twice proved that true Monday evening, May 13, as the Farragut Admirals ensured the program’s 20th trip to the TSSAA Class AAA substate in the last 21 years. Farragut also won its 30th straight game.
Merrick’s two-RBI bloop single to right field brought home the game’s first two runs in a three-run Admirals first inning, while his bloop double into short right-center plated one more in a four-run fourth.
The end result was a 9-2 victory — a must win in the Region 2-AAA semifinals — versus District 3-AAA runner-up Halls (22-11) at John Heatherly Field/The Ballpark at Farragut.
About his single, “I was just trying to sit back on the pitch and not do too much and put it into play,” Merrick said.
Improving to 37-2 overall while still unbeaten this season against Tennessee teams, FHS added a run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Hudson Seiglar.
Ashton King’s solo homer to left field began the four-run Admirals fourth inning.
“It was a fastball inside,” the senior shortstop said about the pitch he blasted.
A Seiglar single and an RBI by junior Carter Gillette (hit by pitch) also helped. Senior Nick Barnes walked for another RBI.
Yet another walk and hit-by-pitch (Halls pitching hit six Admirals batters in all) set the stage for Seiglar’s second sacrifice fly of the game, this one in the fifth inning to make it 9-2.
Gillette rounded out the Admirals hit total with a first-inning bunt single.
Junior starter Ryan Hagenow, Farragut staff ace, went four innings and allowed just one baserunner, a second-inning double, with no runs and six strikeouts.
Reliever Landon Smiddy, a senior, allowed two unearned runs and four hits, with no walks, in two innings.
King worked the seventh inning on the mound, allowing no runs, one hit and one hit-batter with a strikeout.
About his mindset as a reliever while also needed at shortstop and at the plate, “I mainly just focus on hitting and fielding,” King said. “Pitching is just ‘come in a try to help the team out if I can.’”
However, King said his pitching role — featuring a fastball and curveball — has been as the team’s closer.
“That’s what (head coach Matt Buckner) uses me mainly for, is closing,” the senior said. “... I’m not used to going long distances in games. I’m more of a quick one- or two-inning guy.
“That’s what I’m used to — that’s what I’ve been doing since I was little,” King added.
