CAK defense shines against Bearden
-
Christian Academy of Knoxville right-fielder Alex Trimble (1) celebrates with teammates after diving for a game-ending catch in foul territory on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The play encapsulated CAK’s defensive effort Thursday afternoon, as the Warriors thwarted Bearden’s comeback attempt for a 3-1 victory. - Photo by Jake Nichols
-
CAK pitcher Jon Thomas Slack (35) fires a pitch toward the plate against Bearden on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Christian Academy of Knoxville. - Photo by Jake Nichols
At 6:48 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, legendary skipper Tommy Pharr issued a command to his Christian Academy of Knoxville defense: “Just get an out!”
The task was easier said than done — the Warriors clung to a 3-1 lead, but Bearden threatened with two runners on, no outs and a full count on batter Jack Fennell.
Suddenly, though, CAK snapped into action and tripled Pharr’s request in a matter of seconds. The dizzying result left the Warriors winners at 3-1, as third-baseman Joey Sulish and shortstop Seaton Moffitt combined for a sharp double play before Alex Trimble made a diving grab in foul territory for the final out.
Those efforts, combined with a homerun-robbing grab from centerfielder Wyatt Jones, allowed the CAK defense to shine on a day when the offense did just enough to scratch across some runs.
“Wyatt made some good plays in center, then Joey on that line drive and Seaton having enough awareness at second,” Pharr said. “Then that last one in right field was phenomenal. Really good defense. Did enough to win, and that’s all we needed to do.”
The effort allowed CAK to survive a pitcher’s duel, as Warriors hurler Jon Thomas Slack and Bearden’s Colton Perkins went toe-to-toe for seven innings. They gave up five hits and laced two strikeouts apiece, though
Slack finished with 52 strikes on 68 pitches with Perkins at 44 strikes on 71 pitches.
The teams remained locked at zero until the bottom of the fourth when Moffett knocked a sacrifice fly to score Jones, who reached on a single before scooting over to third on an error.
Trimble followed with an RBI double to score Sulish, who had singled as well. Two innings later, Moffett powered a solo shot to right for a 3-0 lead.
Undeterred, Bearden stayed in it until the end, just as the Bulldogs have done in several close losses this season.
Isaiah Allen doubled to start the top of the seventh, then Eli Pickard walked before Carter McCallum lined an RBI single through the middle to bring the Dawgs within two.
Moments later, though, came the defensive sequence that sent CAK into celebration — and left the Bulldogs looking back at some missed opportunities.
“That’s our season in a nutshell right there,” Bearden head coach Dave Prichard lamented. “If we’re not creating pressure, we’re not winning games.”
“Just got to stay the course and not get discouraged,” he added. “The encouraging and discouraging part has been our schedule. Outside of one Farragut game, every game has been close, so it’s just tough. You’ve got to find a way to win those close ones.”
