Wildcats muzzle Bulldogs with 7-2 win
As the 2024 high school baseball regular season enters its home stretch, Oak Ridge has its offense clicking.
The Wildcats scored a total of 26 runs in three wins.
“We had a good week, but we have some big games ahead of us this week,” ORHS Coach Travis Free said.
The Wildcats (17-8-1 overall, 7-2 in District 3-4A) closed out the week with a 7-3 victory over Bearden on Thursday. It was Oak Ridge’s second victory over the Bulldogs this season.
That wasn’t just a big win for the Wildcats. It was huge for the league, which has posted several wins against the teams in District 4-4A, the other league that makes up the Knoxville area region in the classification.
“That shows that District 3 is here and that can’t be forgotten about,” Free said. “Everybody talks about District 4 and Farragut and how dominant they are, but I think our district has a winning record in games that we’ve played against their district.”
Against the Bulldogs, Alex Franklin posted a solid start on the mound as he pitched four innings and allowed just three hits and two unearned runs. He walked two and struck out one.
At the plate, he also came up with three hits, including two doubles and three RBIs.
Oak Ridge, which is playing without senior all-state shortstop and leadoff hitter Caden Black, who is injured but nearing a return to the lineup, had 11 hits against the Bulldogs at Bobby Hopkins Field.
Cy Stephens went 2-for-4. He had a double, an RBI and a stolen base. Warren East was 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base. Peyton Witter doubled and drove in two runs.
Parker Free, Oak Ridge’s catcher, has moved into the leadoff spot for the Wildcats. He had a hit and an RBI against the Bulldogs.
Mikee Teasey had a double, an RBI and a run scored against Bearden.
Early last week, Oak Ridge swept Knoxville Halls in a district series.
On Tuesday, April 16, the Wildcats made the trip to Bob Poston Field in North Knox County and notched an 11-1 victory over the Red Devils.
Richie Ferriera led the way at the plate for the Wildcats as he went 3-for-4 and scored two runs. He also had an RBI.
Parker Free and had two hits and scored, while Teasley went 2-for-2 with a run scored. He doubled and stole a base.
Oak Ridge pounded out 13 hits in the contest.
On Monday, April 15, the Wildcats won the series opener against the Red Devils, notching an 8-4 victory.
Stephens went 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs, a home run, a double and a stolen base.
Witter was 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base.
Ferreira had two hits and drove in a run.
Free had a hit, two RBIs and a sacrifice fly. Kam Welch had a double and scored twice.
Khyren Welch had a double, a run scored and an RBI for Oak Ridge, which closed out district play at Powell on Monday. Results weren’t available at press time, but the winner finished second in the district standings.
