Dragons win three in a row
Dragon Harrison Shelton had a monster week on the mound and at the plate, starting with a gem on the hill against Maryville Christian in Maryville, and then in a two-game set against Gatlinburg-Pittman with the bat. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Dragons appear to be learning that lesson, as they’ve earned three consecutive victories and they’re proving that they can come out on top in any situation.
“The guys are starting to believe they can win,” Stacy said after the Dragons edged Maryville Christian School 2-1 Monday in Blount County. “Our defense was great tonight.”
The Dragons (6-3) got a stellar pitching performance from junior left-hander Harrison Shelton, who hurled a complete game against the Eagles (5-5), going seven innings and surrendering one unearned run, three hits and one walk. He finished with eight strikeouts.
“Harrison pitched his butt off tonight,” Stacy said.
Clinton manufactured enough offense to beat Maryville Christian for the second time in seven days. The Dragons defeated the Eagles 4-2 in Clinton on Monday, March 20.
MCS held the Dragons to four hits, but Cam Britton went 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Jackson Stiltner had a double.
First baseman Isaiah Slaven went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Monday’s game was a sharp contrast to CHS’s weekend home-and home series against Gatlinburg-Pittman.
The Dragons scored 45 runs in two days against the Highlanders.
In the series opener Friday night in Clinton, the Dragons blanked Gatlinburg-Pittman, 15-0 in three innings. Clinton, which led 5-0 after two frames, ended the game early with a 10-run third.
The Dragons had 13 hits in the opener against the Highlanders.
Slaven was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Britton went 2-for-3 with a double. He scored two runs and drove in another.
Stiltner had two hits, including a double, and knocked in a pair of runs.
Shelton finished with three hits, two runs, two RBIs and a double.
On the mound, left-hander Nik Kidd allowed one hit and struck out five.
“Nik Kidd, our senior, did what he had to do and gave us a solid performance on the mound,” Stacy said.
In the series finale, the Dragons prevailed 30-10 in a slugfest in Gatlinburg.
Clinton and the Highlanders were tied 5-5 after the first inning before the Dragons scored 10 runs in both the third and fifth innings.
Offensively, the Dragons went deep three times as Shelton, Garrett Lee and Jayce Mack all homered in the contest.
Shelton also came up with two doubles.
Slaven had three doubles. Lee, who went 4-for-5 with four runs and five RBIs, also had a double.
Shelton was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate. He scored four runs and drove in five more.