Surviving region has baseball Ads in Sectionals at Dobyns-Bennett
Two big efforts, in fact, to reach Sectional play this week. They got it.
Knocking off Powell 8-2 in the first of two season-elimination games for the loser, the Ads (27-10) avenged two district tourney losses to MHS (21-17) to end their season with a 6-1 win that evening.
As a result, Garrett Copeland’s team finished second in region, traveling to Region 1-4A champ Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett for a best-of-three Sectional series starting today (Wednesday, May 14).
“These guys continue to show up and give it all they’ve got whenever we line it up,” Copeland said after eliminating the Red Rebels.”They’re going to complete to the end and fight to the end, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Starting his staff ace pitcher, senior Cole Draper, in the Powell game, Copeland said Draper, who entered the sixth inning looking to protect the Ads’ 6-1 lead, had 50 pitches left before quitting time.
He used 33, allowing no runs, two hits and one hit batter with three strikeouts in two innings. ”He’s efficient, so that helps,” Copeland said of Draper.
Starter Connell Driver, a senior, went four innings, allowing no runs, four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. “He did a good job twice today,” his coach said, while also pitching in the Powell game. Senior Benny Miller came on in the fifth inning and allowed one earned run and two hits.
Offensively, “We were streaky a little bit today,” but in the middle innings against Maryville, after Copeland said he “challenged them,” the result was “they stepped up to the challenge.”
Braxton Tye’s two RBI single and Travis Brummitt Jr.’s RBI double highlighted a four-run FHS fifth inning. Pinch-runner Landon Searles scored.
Aidan Flagg’s sixth-inning home run ended the scoring, while his sac fly provided the first run.
Neyland Williams singled twice and scored a run, while Zain Kureshi-Smth doubled and scored a run. Owen Stelzer singled. Braden Humphrey singled and scored. Tye also scored a run.
