JOHNSON CITY, Tenn – The West Ridge Wolves graduated 10 seniors, eight starters and nearly all the pitchers last season from a baseball team that earned 37 wins over two years.
“We’ve been learning on the go,” West Ridge coach Michael Hoover said.
That learning process continued in Wednesday’s District 1-4A tournament opener at TVA Credit Union Ballpark
Despite collecting 14 hits, West Ridge dropped a 13-8 decision to a Daniel Boone Trailblazers team that features six seniors.
“I’m proud of my guys for competing,” Hoover said. “We had good approaches at the plate and we did what we needed to give ourselves a chance to win, but Boone was able to get some big hits.”
The Trailblazers (20-6) banged out 13 hits, as every player in the lineup reached base at least once. Boone also stole five bases.
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The offensive tone was set in the first inning when West Ridge scored three runs on five hits.
“The game was back and forth the whole way, and then Boone scored four runs in the sixth,” Hoover said. “We just have to come back Thursday with the same mentality.”
West Ridge (10-16) will face Dobyns-Bennett (23-7) in Thursday’s elimination game. Science Hill (28-10) defeated D-B 2-0 in Wednesday’s late game behind the three-hit pitching of sophomore right-hander Caden Wells. Science Hill and Daniel Boone will play Thursday at 5.
Brayden Barr and Morgan Ward led West Ridge with three hits apiece, while Kas Click, veteran catcher Josh Seto and powerful Alex Ireson all supplied two hits.
“We were a little rusty early and looked like a team that hadn’t played but one game in seven days, but West Ridge hit the ball and I wouldn’t have expected anything less from a Hoover-coached team,” Boone coach Scott Hagy said.
Hagy had confidence that his players would answer.
“I didn’t think our bunch would lay down for anybody, and they certainly didn’t. We just had to make some adjustments,” Hagy said. “We hit the ball very hard and I was pleased with that.”
Six-foot-four junior Graham Jones, a University of Tennessee baseball commit as a pitcher and outfielder, paced the Trailblazers by driving in four runs on two singles and a two-run home run in the second inning. He also reached on a walk.
“It was a pretty good night,” said Jones, who missed the end of last season with a labrum injury. “I was just glad to be out there with our seniors. We have good leaders who are not going to fold under pressure.”
The Jones homer left fans buzzing and pushed the Boone advantage to 7-4.
“You have to hit the ball a long way to get it of here, but I thought that ball might have a chance,” Jones said. “It’s tournament time and I’m excited. This has been an amazing season for us, and we want to keep it going.
Jones has honed his skills with the New Jersey based Artillery Baseball travel team that includes 21 players who have made NCAA Division 1 commitments.
Cleanup batter Chandler Justice drove in two runs on a single and double for Boone, while Brayden Blakenship slammed two doubles and Jackson Utsman added a run-scoring triple from the No. 9 spot in the lineup.
Blankenship has nine home runs and 34 RBIs on the season and committed to play at traditional junior college power Walters State on Tuesday. Jones has six homers on the season.
Boone’s Liam Strouth, who pitched the first two innings Wednesday, will play at Emory & Henry. Justus is a Milligan recruit.
Boone shortstop Tim McGonigle converted several difficult fielding chances with sure hands and a quick release, while West Ridge shortstop Kade Oliver also played well.
It’s been a season to remember for Daniel Boone. Behind a group of battle-tested upperclassmen and a deep batting lineup, the Trailblazers won the first regular season conference title in program history.
“People may not realize it, but Boone has had a lot of success in baseball. We just managed to make some history this year by winning the (Big 4) conference,” Hagy said. “Our seniors have been the key. They all play other sports and they’ve learned how to win. That’s carried over.”
Daniel Boone 13, West Ridge 8
West Ridge 313 010 0-8 14 1
Daniel Boone 250 024 x-13 13 1
Duncan, Moore (2), Maines (5) and Seto. Strouth, Jones (3), Norton (6) and Utsman. W-Jones. L-Duncan. HR-Jones (Boone) 2nd one on