What a rally for Hawks
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Parker Evans, FHS catcher, puts the tag on Hardin Valley Academy base- runner Jackson Adkisson at home plate during this District 4-AAA rivalry showdown at HVA Tuesday evening, April 6. - All FHS-HVA game photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs Photography
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Ethan Davidson-Browder reacts with joy after scoring the winning run in Hardin Valley’s wild 13-12 victory thanks to eight runs in the bottom of the seventh at HVA Tuesday, April 6. - All FHS-HVA game photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs Photography
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Hawks pitcher Brycen Denton. - All FHS-HVA game photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs Photography
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Ad Lukas Buckner’s putout at second base. - All FHS-HVA game photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs Photography
HARDIN VALLEY — Brycen Denton and the Hardin Valley Academy baseball team showed their resilience Tuesday evening, April 6, against District 4-AAA rival and defending Class AAA state champion Farragut.
Down 12-5 going into its last at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning, Hardin Valley rallied and scored eight runs — taking advantage of five Admirals errors in that inning — to nab a dramatic 13-12 victory at HVA.
“This was just a testament to our guys,” Hardin Valley head coach Tyler Roach said.
“These guys don’t quit and this is the best group of guys that I’ve ever coached, and I’ve been a part of some pretty good teams,” he added.
“This team is a family. These guys play hard and they play together. I’m really proud of them. They play for each other.”
A wild celebration ensued for the Hawks (12-2 overall, 6-1 in District 4-AAA following the win) after Denton knocked in Ethan Davidson-Browder with the winning run to hand the Ads their first loss of the 2021 season (14-1 overall, 4-1 in district at that point).
In the crazy home half of the final frame, Logan Ozias had a two-run single. He also scored in the inning after reaching on an error. He came home on a two-run single by designated hitter Jackson Adkisson.
Early on, however, Hardin Valley didn’t have much to be happy about, as Farragut darted out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Things didn’t go well for Denton as the Hawks starting pitcher. The left-hander, who surrendered eight runs and seven hits in just three innings on the hill, moved to the outfield after his pitching stint ended.
Farragut’s Tanner Kim opened the scoring with an RBI double, and teammate Hudson Seigler blasted a three-run homer.
The Admirals extended their advantage to 6-0 in the second inning as Kim, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI, came up with a two-run single.
FHS would go up 9-0 in the fifth before the Hawks, on the brink of being run-ruled, showed signs of life at the plate.
Hardin Valley scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of three Admirals errors in the frame.
Austin King crushed a three-run homer in the fifth, while HVA scored the other two thanks to Farragut miscues.
Kim made it 10-5 in the sixth with his solo homer.
Farragut freshman Lukas Buckner had a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make the score 11-5, while a throwing error by the Hawks allowed another run to score.
