Greeneville looked to take the next step towards defending their class 3A title when they took the field Wednesday afternoon against South Gibson County, who knocked off Station Camp 5-1 in their opening round matchup. It would take an extra inning, but the Greene Devils would advance to complete the second step of their journey 2-1.
The Greene Devils gave the ball Will Harmon, a sophomore who not only played a key role on the mound last year, but has been asked to carry an extra portion this season with the graduation of Parker Shipley and Cayden Fillers. Harmon did what he was asked, and then some. In 7+ innings of work, he controlled the pace of the game and limited the Hornets to 1 run on 6 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 9, but would not factor in the decision.
South Gibson’s starter, Jack Bradberry, was equally impressive, suffering the hard-luck loss allowing only 2 runs in 7 1/3 innings of work. He only allowed 7 Greene Devil hits, while walking 1 and striking out 5.
The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the 4th, when Carson Quillen would lead off with a double to center. When it looked as if Bradberry would exit the inning unscathed, Harmon stepped to the plate and delivered a 2-out single to right that scored Quillen, giving the Devils a 1-0 advantage.
Greeneville looked to threaten in the bottom of the sixth as Maddox Bishop and Quillen both reached on singles, with nobody out. However, Colton Richards would fly out, Kaine Ricker would be erased on a batter’s interference, and Harmon would fly out and end the inning, sending it to the top of the seventh.
Aiden Moore picked up a single to single to center in the seventh, followed by a Bradberry walk, and the Hornets were looking to break into the scoring column. Tommy Baker then delivered a 2-out single to right, scoring Moore, tying the game at 1-1, and sending the go-ahead run to third. Harmon ended the threat, collecting his 9th strikeout on the next 3 pitches.
Greeneville would look to end the game in their half of the seventh as Eli House drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Koby Munday. Bradberry would leave the runner stranded at second after a fly out and ground out sent the game into extra innings.
It was then that the Hornets set the stage to sting the Devils and change the momentum of the contest. A leadoff single by Gage Nesbitt chased Harmon from the game due to the pitch count regulations. Carson Norris came on in relief, but unfortunately put the next two runners on by virtue of a hit by pitch and a walk, to load the bases with nobody out.
Greeneville coach, Andy Collins, once again made the call to the bullpen. This time, Sam Thompson, another sophomore, came on in relief. In the sequence of the next 12 pitches, Thompson would get the next batter to fly out, Moore to ground into a fielder’s choice that erased Nesbit at the plate, and Bradberry to end the inning with a fly out to center and no harm done.
That set the stage for the excitement to roll into the Greene Devil dugout. Bishop started off the inning with a sharp single to left before Quillen was erased on a pop up to the shortstop. With one out and Colton Richards at the plate, Bishop stole second, putting himself in scoring position. Richards worked the count full, before lifting a towering drive over the left fielder’s head that landed for a double and allowed Bishop to score the winning run with ease and send Greeneville to the finals of their portion of the bracket on Thursday against Station Camp.
Thompson picked up the win in relief, while Quillen was Greeneville’s top hitter with a double and single, while Bishop and Harmon each collected two singles in the win.
