BY DALTON LAMB
The Chuckey-Doak Black Knights wasted no time punching their ticket to the Region 1-2A Runner-Up game, using a big first inning and steady pitching to top West Greene 6-0 on Friday night at Tusculum Universty’s Pioneer Park.
With the win, Chuckey-Doak earned a chance to play Pigeon Forge in the region runner up game, while West Greene sees its season come to a close.
A chaotic opening frame set the tone for Chuckey-Doak. Jake Hinkle led off by reaching on a controversial error after a collision at first base. Later he advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on a Cooper Seay sacrifice fly.
The Knights weren’t done. Gavin Crum singled, and three consecutive free passes plated two more runs before the inning ended with the bases loaded and a 3-0 lead in hand.
Chuckey-Doak tacked on two more in the second. Hinkle again sparked the offense with an infield single, then stole third and came home on an RBI double from Seay. Seay later scored on a wild throw after a stolen base attempt, giving the Knights all the insurance they would need at 5-0.
While the Knights capitalized on their early opportunities, West Greene struggled to cash in. The Buffaloes got a runner to second base in the second inning, again in the third, and had their best chance in the sixth when Braden McCamey led off with a double. But a baserunning blunder on a fielder’s choice erased the threat.
Jayden Cox and Kaven Greene each reached base twice for West Greene, with Greene drawing a walk and singling in the first, but the Buffaloes couldn’t string together enough offense to break through.
Chuckey-Doak’s pitching and defense were crisp through the middle innings. After walking three in the first, Crum settled in, retiring the side in order in the third and fifth innings, and stranding West Greene runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh.
Jake Hinkle continued to be a spark plug, reaching base three times and scoring twice, while Seay finished with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Lynkin Cutshaw and Ben Palazzo each chipped in with RBI walks in the first-inning rally.
For West Greene, the loss marked the end of a hard-fought season filled with grit and growth.
PIGEON FORGE 8, CHUCKEY-DOAK 1
In a battle for a spot in the TSSAA State Sectionals, the Pigeon Forge Tigers capitalized on key moments and timely hitting to defeat Chuckey-Doak 8–1 on Friday night at Pioneer Park.
With the win, the Tigers move on to face Sweetwater in the sectional round, one step away from a berth in the TSSAA State Tournament.
Pigeon Forge struck early when Joe Webb raced to third on a misplayed fly ball in the top of the first. Liam Stevens brought him home with a sharp RBI single, giving the Tigers a quick 1-0 edge.
Chuckey-Doak responded in the bottom of the second when Dom Atchison wore a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game, but the rally stalled with three men stranded.
The Black Knights had their chances, but base-running miscues and missed opportunities kept them from gaining momentum.
Pigeon Forge took full advantage in the fourth inning. After back-to-back hits by Jackson Allen and Webb, Stevens delivered again. This time with a two-RBI single to break the 1-1 tie. The inning nearly spiraled further, but a heads-up double play by Randall Sauceman on a failed squeeze bunt ended the threat.
Chuckey-Doak tried to claw back with small-ball execution in the bottom half, advancing a runner to third with two sacrifice bunts, but once again came up empty.
The Tigers broke the game open in the sixth. With the bases loaded, David Price drew a walk to force in a run. Cannon McClure followed with a two-RBI single to right field. Price would score on a throw down to second, and Fisher Monday capped the four-run frame with an RBI groundout to stretch the lead to 8-1.
Liam Stevens got the win on the mound for Pigeon Forge. He also finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, anchoring the Tigers’ offensive output.
Jake Hinkle took the loss for Chuckey-Doak despite a solid start and two hits at the plate.
Chuckey-Doak’s season comes to a close, but not without a strong resume. The Black Knights finish their year as District 1-2A regular season champions, tournament champions, and a third-place finish in Region 1-2A.
Pigeon Forge now sets its sights on Sweetwater for the State Sectionals, with a trip to Murfreesboro and the TSSAA State Tournament on the line.
