A nice blend

Veteran leadership, freshmen starters combine as FHS b’ball starts 13-0

Entering Saturday’s DeMarini Classic in Knox County, Mt. Juliet was 12-0.

The mid-state’s Golden Bears left 12-2 following a 6-2 loss to Farragut Saturday, April 3, at FHS’s John Heatherly Field, allowing the Admirals to begin the week 13-0. (MJHS also lost at Christian Academy of Knoxville 12-0).

It was a nice blend of “senior leaders” and talented freshmen; “we started four freshmen” in the field, Ads skipper Matt Buckner said.

Farragut winning pitcher Eli Evans, yet another freshman, went 6 1/3 innings, allowing five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

“That’s pretty outstanding for a freshman,” Buckner said. “He showed a lot of poise right there. Really never got rattled.

“He’s got a bright future.”

On top of everything else, Evans picked off two Mt. Juliet runners at first in the fourth inning.

To close things, it was yet another freshman, lefty Ben Johnson, ending things with a strikeout in relief.

Overall, “That’s as well as we’ve played all year,” Buckner added. “A good team victory.”

Tanner Kim’s first-inning RBI single scored the game’s first run after catcher Parker Evans’ leadoff single.

Bryce Burkey walked and scored.

Angus Pence, senior shortstop whose two-run homer to left field made it 5-1 in the third (Burkey again scoring), had an RBI groundout in the bottom of the first inning.

Evans helped his cause at the plate, doubling and scoring in the second inning on freshman Lukas Buckner’s RBI flyout.

Hudson Seigler singled, while younger brother Brennon Seigler had two hits, including a double.

Kim and Pence also finished with two hits each for the Admirals.