Mavericks advance
Anderson County earns regional spot behind clutch sixth-inning rally
Anderson County third-baseman Clay Fletcher leaves his feet after stepping on the base for a force-out as a Union County runner dives back to the bag during district tournament play Thursday night. The Mavericks blanked the Patriots 12-0 and topped them again 7-4 on Saturday to advance to the district championship game against Gibbs. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Mavericks punched their ticket to the region field Saturday with a 7-4 victory over Union County at home.
In that game, designated hitter Levi Skeen broke a 4-4 tie with a double that brought home three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Nolan Benson, the Mavericks’ leadoff hitter, went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Daniel Unthank had two hits and scored two runs against the Patriots.
Anderson County, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, concluded a busy weekend of baseball with a doubleheader Sunday.
The Mavericks took the field early Sunday afternoon to play Gibbs in the district championship round.
Because of their 2-0 loss to the Eagles in the second round Friday night at ACHS, the Mavericks had to win twice to be crowned champions.
Things began well for Anderson County (23-19), which opened a 5-2 lead in the first contest.
But Gibbs, a multiple-time state champion, wouldn’t go away. The Eagles tied the game in the top of the seventh when Gavin Bergeron clubbed a three-run home run, knotting the score at 5-5.
The Mavericks claimed the victory in walk-off fashion as Jackson Harris came up with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh. It was Harris’ second hit of the contest.
Reese Young went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while Blake Lowe singled, scored and stole a base.
The win forced a winner-take-all championship game, but the Eagles stormed back to claim the title with a 10-1 victory.
Offensively, Harris had a hit and drove in a run, while Dabney Conner singled and scored.
The Mavericks opened tournament play with a 12-0 win over Union County.
ACHS darted out to a fast start, breaking a scoreless tie with three runs in the second inning. The Mavericks added five in the third and four in the fourth.
Jeremiah Owens and Hayden Ault combined on a two-hit shutout against the Patriots.
Owens went four innings and allowed two hits and two walks. He finished with four strikeouts before giving way to Ault, who tossed a scoreless fifth inning.
At the plate, Owens was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Benson had a hit and drove in two runs.
