BY DALTON LAMB
In a clash defined by pitching, defense and limited scoring opportunities, Pigeon Forge came away with a 2–0 victory over the Chuckey-Doak Black Knights on Friday night, to advance to the Region 1-2A championship game.
The Tigers advance to the region championship game where they will face Alcoa at 2 p.m. at Tusculum University. Chuckey-Doak will take on West Greene at 4:30 p.m. The winner of the 4:30 p.m. game and loser of the 2 p.m. game will then play at 7 p.m. for the region runner up spot.
Both teams were locked in a grind-it-out battle. Pigeon Forge’s pitching staff set the tone early, retiring the heart of the Black Knights’ lineup in order in the first and stranding a bases-loaded threat in the second.
Chuckey-Doak starter Lynkin Cutshaw was equally sharp through the first three innings, but a second-inning error and some savvy baserunning gave the Tigers all the edge they would need.
Brody Traywick reached on an error to lead off the second for Pigeon Forge and eventually crossed home plate after a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout, and a wild sequence where a runner was caught stealing — but not before Traywick slid in safely for the game’s first run.
Chuckey-Doak had multiple chances to respond but could not deliver with timely hitting. The Black Knights loaded the bases in the bottom of the second after a single from Cooper Seay and a bunt single from Gavin Crum, but three straight strikeouts — including an 11-pitch battle from James Seidl — ended the threat.
That trend continued in the third and fifth innings, as the Black Knights got runners aboard, only to come up empty-handed. Despite three hits from leadoff man Jake Hinkle, Chuckey-Doak could not push a run across the plate.
The Tigers added a crucial insurance run in the top of the seventh. After a leadoff single from Canon McClure and a defensive miscue, a routine groundout led to a throw that allowed McClure to score from second. A controversial interference call on Joe Webb during a steal attempt ended the inning, but the damage had been done.
Chuckey-Doak had one final chance in the bottom of the seventh. Shane Cook struck out to start the frame, but Cutshaw drew a walk to breathe life into the dugout. Dom Atchison popped out to third, and Hinkle’s line drive was caught in center field to close the book on the game.
ALCOA 10, WEST GREENE 0
The number one team in Class 2A got off to a slow start in Friday’s opening round of the Region 1-2A tournament, but a huge fourth inning propelled the Alcoa Tornadoes to a 10-0 victory over the West Greene Buffaloes on Friday.
Behind a complete game shutout from pitcher Blue Kennedy and an explosive eight-run fourth inning, Alcoa set the tone early and never looked back.
Kennedy was efficient on the hill for the Tornadoes, scattering just three hits over five innings of work while striking out five and walking two. He needed only 76 pitches to complete the five inning game. He also helped his own cause at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The Tornadoes opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, then added another run in the third before erupting in the fourth for eight runs to put the game well out of reach. The offense was powered by a well-balanced attack, with eight different players recording hits and six different players driving in runs.
Eli Graff led the way from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Third baseman Ty Eichman and second baseman Aden Orrick each added two RBIs apiece. Kyler Clark had a big day as well, collecting two doubles and two hits while driving in a run.
West Greene struggled to generate any offensive rhythm against Kennedy. The Buffaloes were held to just three hits — singles from Conner Campbell, Jhonen Bath, and Broandon Hunter — and struck out five times. Although the Buffaloes left runners on base in each of the first four innings of the game.
Campbell took the loss for West Greene after surrendering eight runs on eight hits across 3 1/3 innings. Relievers Carpenter and Brown combined to finish the fourth inning but were unable to stop the bleeding.
Alcoa advances to the Region 1-2A championship, where they will face district rival, Pigeon Forge for the Region title.
West Greene will play Chuckey-Doak tomorrow in an elimination game. The winner will face the loser of Alcoa and Pigeon Forge in the Region 1-2A Runner-Up game.
