Boys of summer
Coal Creek Bulls open season
Summer baseball is underway for the Coal Creek Bulls.
The Bulls have played four games, and hold a 2-2 record after the first week of competition.
Coal Creek split a pair of games early Saturday, beating the Broadway Hawks 10-4 and falling to the Knoxville Ice 13-1 at Anderson County High School.
The Bulls opened the day with the victory over the Hawks, who hail from North Knoxville.
Easton Beaty led the Coal Creek offensive attack as he went 3-for-3. He doubled and recorded two RBIs. He also scored two runs for the Bulls, who fell behind 2-0 as the Hawks plated a pair of runs in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the opening frame, Coal Creek answered and took a 3-2 lead into the top of the second before Broadway regained the lead with a pair of runs in the frame.
The Hawks kept the Bulls off the board in the second, and held a 4-3 lead before Coal Creek scored six runs in the bottom of the third, to open a 9-4 advantage.
From there, Coal Creek reliever and recent Norris Middle School graduate Aiden Walker kept the Hawks at bay for the remainder of the five-inning contest. Walker hurled two innings of scoreless relief. He gave up three hits and issued a walk, while striking out four Broadway hitters.
Jeremiah Owens started on the mound for the Bulls and picked up his second win for Coal Creek this summer. Owens (2-0) surrendered four runs (two earned) and only one hit. He walked two and struck out three over three innings pitched.
Owens also had a productive day at the plate against the Hawks as he went 2-for-2 and scored two runs.
Former Norris Middle star Levi Skeen hit a home run. He drove in two runs and finished with a pair of hits as the team’s designated hitter.
Reece Wilkerson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Ty Wilson had two hits, knocked in one run and scored another. AJ Colorusso had a hit, drove in three runs and scored once.
Tripp Haire finished with a hit and an RBI, for Coal Creek, which pounded out 14 hits against the Hawks.
In Saturday’s second game, the Bulls struggled in a 13-1 loss to the Knoxville Ice.
The Bulls had had just three hits and committed five errors. Wilkerson tripled and scored, while Beaty doubled and had an RBI. Skeen also singled in the contest.
Coal Creek opened the summer campaign by splitting a doubleheader against the Graveston Firebirds (Corryton).
The Bulls won the first game 9-1, and dropped the nightcap 6-4.
Owens had five strikeouts and earned the win. He was one of five pitchers to appear in the summer opener against the Firebirds.
Beaty knocked in three runs, and Wilkerson came up with two hits and two runs.
Coal Creek hosted its crosstown rival, the River Boys, in a doubleheader Tuesday. Results were not available at press time.
The Bulls host the Hawks in a doubleheader Thursday. Action begins at 6 p.m.