Coal Creek makes deep run in tourney
Coal Creek’s Hayden Ault prepares to throw a pitch in the team’s 8-1 victory over William Blount in the recent East Tennessee Baseball District tournament. (photo:Tony Cox )
Coal Creek won four games during the event, which was played in Sweetwater and North Knoxville at Larry Cox Field on the campus of Christenberry Elementary School.
The tournament’s No. 6 seed opened play with an 8-1 victory over William Blount in Sweetwater on Tuesday, July 7.
William Blount grabbed an early lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning and carried a 1-0 advantage into the fifth.
Coal Creek pulled even when Eli Ledford delivered an RBI single that scored Lee Goins.
The team then broke the game open with seven runs in the sixth inning.
Jackson Harris went 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Landry Sharp collected two hits, including a double, drove in two runs and scored once. Ledford finished with two hits, two RBIs and a stolen base, while Goins doubled and scored.
Jack Wilson earned the victory with three innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit while striking out seven. Hayden Ault started and pitched one inning, surrendering one run on three hits with four walks.
Coal Creek suffered its lone loss of the tournament against host Sweetwater, falling 5-2 after taking a 2-0 lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings.
The game began July 7 but was suspended because of rain before being completed the following day.
Coal Creek managed just two hits as Cooper Smith and Pierson Lollar both singled. Wilson and Parker Vance scored the team’s runs.
Coal Creek bounced back with a 5-4 victory over top-seeded Falcons NABF of North Knoxville.
Reese Young went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored, while Wilson belted a home run.
Coal Creek closed tournament play by sweeping a doubleheader from the Graveston Freebirds of Corryton.
Coal Creek rolled to an 11-1 victory in the opener Thursday night.
The team scored three runs in the first inning. After the Freebirds answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, Coal Creek added two runs in the second to build a 5-1 lead before putting the game away with six runs in the fourth.
Young went 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Wilson added two doubles, drove in three runs and scored twice. Harris tripled, scored two runs and drove in another, while Landon Notaro collected two hits and scored twice.
Coal Creek completed the sweep with a 9-7 victory in the nightcap.
Young went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Wilson and Ledford each singled and scored, while Lollar singled and drove in a run.
