41 region runs in just 2 games for Ads baseball; Sectional next
It was yet another offensive explosion by Farragut High School’s baseball team Saturday, May 11, and it brought the Admirals another regional championship.
The Ads hit four three-run home runs en route to a 21-2, run-ruled shellacking of Oak Ridge at The Ballpark at Farragut/John Heatherly Field.
The Region 2-4A title advanced FHS (34-5) to the Sectionals, a best-of-three series at home against Johnson City Science Hill starting at 6:30 p.m., today, Wednesday, May 15. Game two is set to begin at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 16, with a deciding game three, if necessary, to follow game two Thursday.
Series winner goes to state in Murfreesboro next week.
“When we sense blood we have a pretty killer instinct,” Admirals’ skipper Matt Buckner said.
The onslaught began in the top of the first when Eli Evans’ grounder was misplayed, allowing Lukas Buckner and Landis Davila to score. Michael Delph’s double then scored Evans.
Evans made it 6-0 in the second when his three-run bomb to left field.
The Wildcats got a pair in the bottom of the fourth when FHS starting pitcher Cade O’Leary — who faced the minimum nine batters through three — walked in two runs after giving up two singles.
In the Farragut fifth, Buckner followed with a three-run shot to right, and it was 9-2.
“It was a heater, and right when I hit it I knew it was gone,” the senior shortstop said.
“I think we just ran out of bullets at the end,” Bobcats head coach Travis Free said.
The Ads put up an eye-popping 12 runs in the sixth, nine before a single out was recorded.
The first three runs came on Delph’s three-run homer.
Jake Merrick’s three-run shot made it 19-2.