EVENSVILLE — Making a district championship game for the first time in 15 years, top-seeded Cleveland finished off a sweep of Rhea County Friday evening, in Evensville.
Scoring early and often, Coach Brent Tucker's Blue Raiders put up a trio of crooked numbers on their way to a 9-3 win to end the fourth-seeded Golden Eagles' season.
Cleveland (21-11) not only advanced to the District 5-4A title game, but get to host it after presstime Monday against third-seed McMinn County (20-12), at Bill Talley Stadium.
Both teams advance to the Region 3-4A Tournament this weekend at District 6-4A champ Bradley Central. Monday's winner will battle Ooltewah (9-20) in the region opener.
Cleveland jumped out front from the get-go, putting a trio of runs on the scoreboard in the game's opening at bat.
After Virginia Tech signee Mycah Jordan opened with a base on balls and stole second, Tennessee Wesleyan signee Nolan Copeland and Tusculum bound Cutter Womack stroked back-to-back RBI-single singles.
Senior Jack McBrayer helped out his own cause with a sac fly to plate the final run.
It was a similar scenario for a solo score in the third inning when Womack "walked the line," swiped second and third and came home on another McBrayer sacrifice fly.
Another 3-spot for the visitors came in the fourth frame when River Briggs drew a free pass, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error, before Tyler Gardner ripped a one-out, run-scoring single and advanced to second on another Eagle miscue.
After a fielder's choice moved him to third, Gardner scored when Jordan laced a two-out single. The District Player of the Year once again swiped second and third before Jonas Ernest brought him in with a hit.
Cleveland capped its scoring in the top of the sixth when sophomore Collin Stuart was "plunked," steals second before Jordan moved him to third with a single.
Back-to-back two-out Womack and McBrayer plated the runners for a 9-0 edge.
Rhea County finally got the goose egg off the bottom of the board with a pair of runs thanks to five straight walks in its half of the sixth, plus added another in the game's final at bat with a trio of one-out singles.
McBrayer earned the pitching victory, working the first four shutout innings, striking out three and issuing a a pair of free passes, while allowing just two hits.
Game Summary
District 5-4A
Semifinals
Friday, May 3
in Evensville
Cleveland 301 302 0 — 9 10 0
Rhea County 000 002 1 — 3 5 2
WP: Jack McBrayer 4 IP,3 Ks, 2 BB, 2 hits, 0 ER. LP: Kamdon Riley. 2B: Jack McBrayer (C). RBI: McBrayer 3, Mycah Jordan, Nolan Copeland, Jonas Ernest, Tyler Gardner (C); Drew Massengill (RC). Records: Cleveland 21-11; Rhea County 4-24.
