Wildcats to host sectional after winning Region 2-4A
The road to Murfreesboro and the Class 4A baseball state tournament runs through Oak Ridge.
The Wildcats, who reached the state tournament for the first time in more than 50 years last season, are now just two wins away from making a return trip to Spring Fling.
They will host a best-of-three Class 4A state sectional series at Bobby Hopkins Field.
Oak Ridge (32-7), which set a school record for wins this season, will face Science Hill in the series that opens today (May 14) at 6:30 p.m. Game 2 is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, with a third game to follow if necessary.
The Wildcats earned home-field advantage by capturing the Region 2-4A championship Saturday with an 11-2 win over Maryville.
Oak Ridge pounded out 10 hits in the title game. Noah Wood went 3-for-3 with two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base. Richie Ferreira and Peyton Witter each had two hits, with Ferreira scoring a run and Witter adding an RBI.
Leadoff hitter Warren East went 1-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases. Parker Free contributed a triple, a sacrifice fly and three RBIs.
The Region 2-4A title followed a 6-2 comeback win over three-time defending Class 4A state champion Farragut in Friday’s regional semifinal. The Wildcats erased a 2-0 deficit with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Ferreira went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while East was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run. Free also doubled. Whit Renegar had a double and scored a run, while Wood singled and drove in a run.
On the mound, junior left-hander Kam Welch pitched six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. Witter closed the game with a scoreless seventh inning, issuing one walk.
