Tinker’s an All-Star

Four Riverdogs take part in Senior Game

July 8, 2020 by Collin Riggs

The East Tennessee High School Baseball League had its Senior Night on Friday, July 3, along with the All-Star game between East and West teams.

The senior game was for all of the seniors who weren’t picked for the All-Star team, said Riverdog Coach Rob Lowe.

“We had four of our seniors show up,” he said. “They were all supposed to be on the West team, but a lot of people committed and didn’t show up, so we had to work out a trade with the other team because they didn’t have a catcher, so Adam Sharp played on the East team.”

Chase Lockard went three-for-three on the day. The West ended up winning 3-2, but Adam Sharp ended up with two runners batted in for the East team.

“It was fun,” said Lowe. “Everyone had fun. It was interesting, though. We showed up expecting 20 players and ended up with 10, and no idea where most of them were supposed to be playing except for what was listed on the team roster. It was almost like a pick-up team of sandlot ball by the way we had to put the teams together.”

After the Senior Game, it was time for the All-Stars, including Clinton’s own Ethan Tinker, who pitched for two innings, giving up one unearned run. The West team went on to win that game as well, walking away with an 8-3 victory.

The Riverdogs have had a rough go of their season so far, losing 2-4 against the Morristown Sandlot and 3-4 against the South Doyle Knights in the week leading up to the Senior Game and All-Star Game.

“They were nail-biters,” said Tinker of the previous games. “We lost both, but we ran them up to the very last inning. Just have to fight through and learn how to get ahead and stay ahead.

“One of the members of the Smokies’ staff came up and complimented them during one of those games, when they were playing the number two team in the league,” Tinker said.

“He complimented them on the effort they’ve been putting forth and said it was a good game to watch. I think that really meant a lot of them.”