Mavericks District 4-AAA champs
Owens’ walk-off clinches Anderson County win
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Anderson County’s Clay Fletcher threw a complete game against Gibbs on Thursday night, May 1. Fletcher faced 26 batters over seven innings and only allowed six hits during the Mavericks’ 1-0 shutout of the Eagles. - Tony Cox
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Jeremiah Owens’ dramatic hit in the seventh inning gave the Mavericks the win and District 4-AAA championship title. Anderson County will face Cocke County at Seymour on Friday. - Tony Cox
Anderson County had a late night on the baseball diamond Monday, but the Mavericks left the park as District 4-AAA champions, thanks to seventh-inning heroics from Jeremiah Owens.
Owens, the Mavericks’ left fielder, delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel top-seeded Anderson County to a 3-2 victory over No. 2 seed Union County at ACHS.
The championship win was especially sweet for the Mavericks (25-10), and it was a long time in the making.
The title game was originally scheduled for Friday night, but torrential rains interrupted the losers’ bracket game between the Patriots and Gibbs, with the Eagles leading 1-0 when play was suspended.
The teams returned to the field Monday, and the completion of the losers’ bracket game lasted more than four hours, as Union County edged Gibbs 3-2 in 14 innings.
The championship game didn’t start until after 9:30 p.m., but Anderson County’s dramatic win made the wait worthwhile.
The Mavericks completed a 3-0 run through the district tournament.
They took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by Trent Strickland that scored leadoff hitter Nolan Benson, who reached after being hit by a pitch.
Union County tied the game in the top of the second, but the Mavericks regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth on Benson’s sacrifice fly, which scored Blake Lowe to make it 2-1.
The Patriots tied the game in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for Owens’ game-winning hit.
Strickland went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Owens was also 1-for-3 with the game-winning RBI, while Lowe went 1-for-3 and scored a run.
On the mound, Wil Ridenour threw a complete game for Anderson County, going seven innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks, and struck out 11.
It was the Mavericks’ third-consecutive complete game of the tournament.
Anderson County reached the title game by edging Gibbs 1-0 on Thursday in a classic pitchers’ duel.
Lowe delivered the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth with a double that scored freshman pinch runner Reese Young. Young was running for Owens, who went 2-for-3 with a double.
Clay Fletcher pitched a six-hit shutout, walking two and striking out 11.
The Mavericks opened tournament play on Tuesday, April 29, with a 5-1 win over crosstown rival Clinton.
Alex Bond threw a complete game, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out 13. He also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Benson, Anderson County’s leadoff hitter and third baseman, went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Ty Wilson doubled and had an RBI, while Fletcher was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Anderson County will open the Region 2-AAA tournament on Friday against Cocke County at Seymour. Game time was not available at press time.
