Stacy calm despite slow start for Dragons
Clinton High School’s baseball team has had its share of struggles this season.
The Dragons have lost 12 of their first 19 games in 2024.
But Coach Rob Stacy hasn’t hit the panic button.
“We’re looking forward to the future because we’re getting everybody healthy and we’re excited,” Stacy said. “I would rather peak later than peak too early. In the past, we’ve peaked too early.
“This year, we’ve played an extremely tough schedule” he said. “The rankings just came out and just about everybody we’ve played is ranked in their classification.”
The Dragons (7-12) closed their stay in the East Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Tournament with a 10-0 loss to Division II-A powerhouse Christian Academy of Knoxville, coached by the legendary Tommy Pharr.
The Warriors’ Brody Waller and Tyler Bennett pitched a combined no-hitter against Clinton, which had just five base runners. Waller, who started and went five innings, hit two batters and walked three, while coming up with nine strikeouts.
Bennett pitched the sixth and final inning and had two strikeouts.
He also hit a home run for CAK, which has defeated the Dragons twice this season.
On Friday, Clinton defeated Oakdale 14-0. It scored eight runs in the fifth inning to run-rule the Eagles at Jaycee Park.
Garrett Lee went 3-for-3 and scored three runs for the Dragons, while Harrison Shelton was 1-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. He also walked twice and scored. Jackson Webb was 2-for-3 with a double, three runs and an RBI.
Dallas Beets and Sam Raley tossed a combined two-hit shutout. Beets started and went four innings. He gave up two hits and one walk, and struck out three. Raley pitched the fifth and final inning. He walked one and struck out two.
On Thursday, Clinton fell 4-3 to rival Powell at Danny T. Maples Field in Powell in its first tournament game.
The Dragons, who had just two hits in the game, scored three runs in the fourth inning. Jayce Mack and Lee had Clinton’s hits, and Lee drove in a run.
On Wednesday, April 3, Clinton dropped an 8-4 decision to Oak Ridge at Jaycee Park.