Dragons win three of four in the Clinch River Classic
Clinton’s Ethan Tinker got the complete game win against Maryville Christian. (photo:Richard Evans )
The Dragons struck first as they scored four in the first inning and added two in the second, two more in the third, and one in each of the last two innings.
Alex Gaetz picked up the win as he went all five innings and allowed no runs on only two hits with five strikeouts.
Blake Lowe went 3-4 with a home run and four RBI, while Connor Moody went 3-4 with three runs scored. Eli Ellis was 2-2 with an RBI and three runs scored. Sam Raley was 1-2 with an RBI.
Last Friday, the Dragons beat Pike Central (Ky.) in dramatic fashion, 3-2.
Clinton got on the scoreboard with a run in the first when Ellis reached on a two-out single. He moved to third on a base hit by Lowe. He then scored on the back of a double steal.
The Dragons held a 1-0 lead until the fourth when Lowe led off the inning with a solo home run.
Starter Ethan Tinker was cruising until the top of the sixth when the Hawks scored two runs to tie the game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Gaetz was the hero as he provided a walk-off RBI single to score Ellis.
Tinker got the complete-game win, pitching all seven innings. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits with 12 strikeouts.
Lowe was 2-3 with a home run and RBI, while Gaetz was 1-1 with an RBI. Ellis was 2-4 with two runs scored. Raley and Jackson Stiltner each had a hit.
On Saturday, the Dragons beat Cocke County 7-4.
After Clinton took a 2-0 first-inning lead, Cocke County tied the game in the top of the third. The Dragons scored two in the bottom of the inning and one run in the fourth and two in the sixth.
Ellis pitched six innings and got the win. He allowed one earned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. He was also 1-2 with a double and an RBI at the plate.
Lowe was 3-4 with two doubles and an RBI while Moody was 1-4 with two RBI. Tinker was 2-3 and Gaetz added an RBI.
In the finale on Saturday, the Dragons fell to Union County by a score of 11-2.
The Patriots jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning. They added a run in the third and one more in the fifth before adding three in the seventh.
Lowe took the loss. He pitched five innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Tinker and Moody each had a hit and an RBI while Ellis and Reece Wilkerson each had a hit.
The Dragons return to action on Thursday in the East Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Tournament when they play at Karns at 5 p.m. On Friday, Clinton visits Heritage at 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, they play William Blount at Heritage at 5 p.m. On Monday, April 11, they host Scott at 6 p.m.