Mavs end season with 24-12 record
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Lane Fletcher bunts the ball during last week’s match- up against Cumberland Gap. - Ricky Williams
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Reece Wilkerson had two hits against Cumberland Gap in the Mavericks’ tournament game last week.. - Ricky Williams
Anderson County saw its 2024 baseball season come to an end Thursday night.
The Mavericks (24-12) fell in an elimination game in the District 4-AAA tournament, losing to defending Class AAA State Champion Union County 2-1 at Gibbs High’s Steve Hunley Field in Corryton.
The second-seeded Mavericks took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, only to see the third-seeded Patriots come back and score two runs in the sixth.
Senior Morgan Clark closed out his high school career by going 2-for-3. Trent Strickland singled and scored for Anderson County, while Aydin Bond also collected a hit for the Mavericks.
Pitcher Daniel Unthank took the tough-luck loss on the mound despite a solid performance. He surrendered two runs, six hits and three walks. He struck out three over seven innings.
On Wednesday, May 1, the Mavs notched their only postseason win as they routed Cumberland Gap 16-1 in five innings.
Unthank was Anderson County’s top performer against the Panthers as he went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Four Mavericks came up with two hits each as Bond went 2-for-4 and scored two runs; Clark was 2-for-3 with two runs scored; Trey Rowe had two hits and two runs scored, and also drove in a run; and Reece Wilkerson had two hits, including a double. He also scored two runs.
Gavin Hill chipped in with a hit, a run and two RBIs. He also scored for Anderson County. Trent Strickland singled, scored and drove in two runs.
After an opening-round tournament bye, the Mavericks opened with a 3-1 loss at home to crosstown rival Clinton.
Wilkerson doubled and scored for the Mavericks, who had a stellar start on the mound from Luke Lankford. He pitched six innings. He gave up two runs, five hits and five walks. He finished with 12 strikeouts.
Clark also had a hit for the Mavericks.
For the Dragons, Harrison Shelton hit a home run and Garrett Davis went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored.
Anderson County closed out its regular season on Monday, April 29, with a 4-0 win over Karns at home as Unthank and Clark threw a combined two-hit shutout against the Beavers, who went on to upset Knoxville Halls 4-2 in the first round of the District 3-4A Tournament in a midweek tilt.