Greeneville and Cherokee came into the semi-finals Thursday evening at Pioneer Park looking to win, and not only advance to the finals, but secure a spot in next week’s Region 1-AAA tournament. Both pitchers would have solid performances, but it would be the Greene Devils that would capitalize on several miscues and claim the 4-2 victory.
Greeneville got on the board first in the bottom of the 2nd, without picking up a hit. Three miscues allowed runners to reach base and one, Jack Lister, who was running for Will Harmon, to score giving the Greene Devils the early 1-0 lead.
Cole Putnal, who paced Cherokee at the plate with two hits, started off the top of the 4th with a single to center. His courtesy runner, Clay Wagoner, would steal second before being advanced to third via a sacrifice bunt. Following a Greeneville throwing error, an RBI single from Gage Adkins would make the score 1-1 and have the Chiefs threatening for more. A sharp ground ball to Eli House, at first, would trigger an inning ending double play keeping the game knotted up.
Pitching and defense would continue its dominance until the bottom of the 5th when Greeneville would retake the lead and add some insurance runs. Maddox Bishop started the inning off with a leadoff triple and would score the go-ahead run Carson Quillen sent a line drive to left for an RBI single. Carson then proceeded to steal second and advance to third when the throw from the catcher sailed into center. Attempting to erase him at third, the throw got away and he would advance home, extending the lead to 3-1. Looking to add some insurance, Kaine Ricker, who drew a walk, stole second, and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch, making the score 4-1.
Greeneville starter, Will Harmon seemed in control until the Chiefs made things interesting in the top of the 6th, when Putnal showed his patience at the plate and drew a one-out walk. Wagoner would once again courtesy run and go from first to third on a hit and run single. With two outs in the inning, Harmon would Manning Brooks picked off at first and caught in a run-down, but before he could be tagged out, Wagoner would advance home, seeing everyone safe and cutting the score to 4-2.
Harmon would go the distance on the mound for the win allowing only 2 earned runs, scattering 4 hits, walking 2, and striking out 6. Cherokee’s pitcher, Keaton Lawson, was equally dominant, going the distance in the loss, allowing 4 runs (2 earned), allowing 6 hits, walking 1, and striking out 4.
Offensively, the Devils were paced by Bishop with two hits (a triple and single) and Richards with a double. Quillen was the only Greeneville hitter to garnish an RBI.
With the win, Greeneville improves their record to 19-12, advances to the finals, and looks to repeat as tournament champs. The championship game is set for 7:30 Friday night at Pioneer Park. They will await the winner of the first contest between Cherokee and Volunteer, who will be playing in an elimination game at 5:30.
