Bouncing back from loss to Admirals, defending champ KCHS beats Central
KNOXVILLE — Some seventh-inning heroics propelled Knoxville Catholic High School baseball into the win column for the first time this season late last week.
A one-out walk-off RBI single from senior Grant Tallent plated pinch runner Harrison Vieira to lift the defending Division II-AA state champ Irish to a 3-2 win over Knox Central Thursday, March 7, at KCHS’s Gaylor Field. Catholic bounced back from an opening-season home loss to local power Farragut March 4.
Tallent’s seventh-inning heroics followed a two-out, two-run rally by the Bobcats in the top of the seventh inning. The senior, who played both left field and center field for the Irish against Central (1-1), said he had an idea what to expect on what proved to be the game’s final pitch.
“Coach (Caleb) Moore told me what to expect and I got it, put the bat on it and what happened, happened,” Tallent said. “It feels great to win this game.”
Catholic first baseman Nate O’Donnell opened the game-winning rally with a leadoff single and was lifted for Veira, who promptly moved into scoring position on an errant pickoff throw. He would advance to third on a single by Cooper Williamson.
Hudson Lutterman was then issued an intentional walk to load the bases before Tallent delivered the game-winning hit.
Catholic (1-1) had a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning before things came a bit unraveled for the Irish.
Central relief pitcher David Grimes, who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth, led off the top of the seventh and was hit in the head on a pitch by Lutterman, who would go on to retire the next two Bobcats.
Nick Riordan then singled, moving Grimes to third. Andrew Hill walked to load the bases before Cole Wessell delivered the game-winning two-run single to make it 2-2.
Central head coach Brandon Roberts commended Grimes for his effort.
“David Grimes is a kid who does things the right way, after he got them out and came in, we told him that he had to find a way to get on,” Roberts said. “And he did. He got hit in the head.”
Moore said Grimes getting hit changed the complexion of the game.
“I hate to say it, but I think this is going to be the ‘MO’ this season,” Moore said. “You can’t hit a guy in the head with an 0-2 count and Hudson knows that.
“Central is a good team. They have good players. They have good hitters and good arms,” the Irish skipper added. “This was a big win, and hopefully this will be a learning experience for us.”
Williamson started on the mound for the Irish and had to pitch around some trouble in the top of the first, as he
hit Hill and walked Wessell, with one out, before Samuel Myers singled to load the bases. The KCHS pitcher,
however, averted damage as he struck out a pair of Central hitters to end the top half of the frame.
Catholic took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Jameson Hussey came up
with an RBI single and DJ Lowery came home on a
wild pitch.
The Bobcats stranded two runners in the sixth, as Williamson walked the final two batters he faced before giving way to Lutterman, who slammed the door on Central by striking out the side.
Williamson and Lutterman combined to record 13 strikeouts in the contest. Lutterman, who earned the win, had four in relief, while Williamson finished with nine.
