Boone Fends Off Game Wolves in District Opener
An upset was howling when West Ridge took an 8-7 lead in the top of the fifth, but top-seeded Daniel Boone was able to fend off the Wolves, 13-8, in a District 1-AAAA semifinal contest Wednesday evening at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.
West Ridge led 3-0 after the top of the first and 4-2 going to the bottom of the second. It was 7-7 after three before the Wolves scored one in the top of the fifth.
“We looked like we hadn’t played but one game in seven days,” said Daniel Boone coach Scott Hagy. “We were a little rusty. But credit West Ridge. They can hit the baseball. I wouldn’t have expected anything less from West Ridge and a Hoover-coached team.”
Neither starting pitcher lasted past the third. Boone starter Liam Strouth was pulled one out into the third after being touched for six runs and eight hits.
“I’m proud of my guys,” said West Ridge coach Michael Hoover. “We came out and competed and put three up in the first inning. We were back and forth the whole way.”
Ten of the Wolves’ dozen hits came in the first three frames, many just eluding the Boone defense.
“They ate this hole up over here,” motioned Hagy between third and short. “I’m pleased with our resolve. I didn’t think this bunch was going to lay down for anybody and they certainly didn’t lay down today.”
Boone took its first lead in the second, pushing across five runs capped by a two-run bomb by Graham Jones, his seventh homer of the season.
“When I hit it, I thought I touched it pretty well,” smiled Jones. “It’s not Daniel Boone, so you actually have to hit it to get out of here.”
A Chandler Justice single tied the game 8-8 in the fifth and the first of two doubles by Brayden Blankenship brought around Justice to put the ‘Blazers up for good.
Four more runs came in the fifth. Jones lined a two-run single to give Boone some breathing room. A Ben Stevens triple and another Blankenship two-bagger accounted for the final margin.
Eight of Boone’s dozen hits came in the final two frames and six of the ‘Blazers 12 hits went for extra bases.
“We touched several baseballs,” noted Hagy. “Graham’s was a monster shot. Then we hit several off the walls. In this big park, it can hold them, but we still hit them very hard. Pleased with that.”
Freshman Garrison Jones took over Strouth in the third and earned the win with 2⅔ innings of relief, allowing two runs and four hits. Braydon Norton allowed two hits in two scoreless innings for the save.
“That’s what we’ve grown to expect out of Braydon,” said Hagy. “That’s his role and he’s embraced it. His ERA and WHIP are very low. They even got a few hits off him, which not many people have done. That’s his role and he’s embraced it.”
Jones finished 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, four runs scored and four runs driven in for Boone (20-6). Justice and Blankenship both had two hits with Justice going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored and Blankenship going 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and one run batted in.
Brayden Barr and Morgan Ward boh went 3-for-4 for West Ridge (10-16). Ward drove in two runs and scored three others. Barr also drove in a pair. Josh Seto, Alex Ireson and Kas Click all hit safely twice with Ireson scoring two times and driving in one and Click driving in two.
Daniel Boone will face Science Hill in the winners’ bracket final Thursday at 5:00 p.m. The winner advances to the championship round and earns a spot in next weekend’s Region 1-AAAA Tournament.
West Ridge will face Dobyns-Bennett in an elimination game at 7:30 p.m.
“Boone put up that four spot which made it a challenge there at the end,” noted the Wolves’ Hoover. “I’m proud of my guys for competing. I thought we did what we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win. Give Boone credit, they got guys on and were able to get some big hits to get those runs in late. I’m proud of our effort, we just have to come back tomorrow with that same mentality.”
West Ridge – Cade Duncan, Reagan Moore (2), Peyton Maines (5) and Josh Seto. Daniel Boone – Liam Strouth, Garrison Jones (3), Braydon Norton (6) and Jackson Utmans. W – Garrison Jones, L – Cade Duncan, S – Braydon Norton. 2B – Brayden Blankenship, West Ridge 2; Chandler Justice, Daniel Boone. 3B – Jackson Utsman, Daniel Boone. HR – Graham Jones, Daniel Boone (one on in 2nd). RBI – West Ridge 7 (Morgan Ward 2, Brayden Barr 2, Kas Click 2, Alex Ireson), Daniel Boone 11 (Graham Jones 4, Chandler Justice 2, Tim McGonigle, Ben Stevens, Brayden Blankenship, Slader Tinker, Jackson Utsman). SB – West Ridge 2 (Parker Senn, Kas Click), Daniel Boone 6 (Ethan Roller 2, Graham Jones 2, Chandler Justice, Brayden Blankenship). DP – Daniel Boone. LOB – West Ridge 9, Daniel Boone 5.
West Ridge led 3-0 after the top of the first and 4-2 going to the bottom of the second. It was 7-7 after three before the Wolves scored one in the top of the fifth.
“We looked like we hadn’t played but one game in seven days,” said Daniel Boone coach Scott Hagy. “We were a little rusty. But credit West Ridge. They can hit the baseball. I wouldn’t have expected anything less from West Ridge and a Hoover-coached team.”
Neither starting pitcher lasted past the third. Boone starter Liam Strouth was pulled one out into the third after being touched for six runs and eight hits.
“I’m proud of my guys,” said West Ridge coach Michael Hoover. “We came out and competed and put three up in the first inning. We were back and forth the whole way.”
Ten of the Wolves’ dozen hits came in the first three frames, many just eluding the Boone defense.
“They ate this hole up over here,” motioned Hagy between third and short. “I’m pleased with our resolve. I didn’t think this bunch was going to lay down for anybody and they certainly didn’t lay down today.”
Boone took its first lead in the second, pushing across five runs capped by a two-run bomb by Graham Jones, his seventh homer of the season.
“When I hit it, I thought I touched it pretty well,” smiled Jones. “It’s not Daniel Boone, so you actually have to hit it to get out of here.”
A Chandler Justice single tied the game 8-8 in the fifth and the first of two doubles by Brayden Blankenship brought around Justice to put the ‘Blazers up for good.
Four more runs came in the fifth. Jones lined a two-run single to give Boone some breathing room. A Ben Stevens triple and another Blankenship two-bagger accounted for the final margin.
Eight of Boone’s dozen hits came in the final two frames and six of the ‘Blazers 12 hits went for extra bases.
“We touched several baseballs,” noted Hagy. “Graham’s was a monster shot. Then we hit several off the walls. In this big park, it can hold them, but we still hit them very hard. Pleased with that.”
Freshman Garrison Jones took over Strouth in the third and earned the win with 2⅔ innings of relief, allowing two runs and four hits. Braydon Norton allowed two hits in two scoreless innings for the save.
“That’s what we’ve grown to expect out of Braydon,” said Hagy. “That’s his role and he’s embraced it. His ERA and WHIP are very low. They even got a few hits off him, which not many people have done. That’s his role and he’s embraced it.”
Jones finished 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, four runs scored and four runs driven in for Boone (20-6). Justice and Blankenship both had two hits with Justice going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored and Blankenship going 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and one run batted in.
Brayden Barr and Morgan Ward boh went 3-for-4 for West Ridge (10-16). Ward drove in two runs and scored three others. Barr also drove in a pair. Josh Seto, Alex Ireson and Kas Click all hit safely twice with Ireson scoring two times and driving in one and Click driving in two.
Daniel Boone will face Science Hill in the winners’ bracket final Thursday at 5:00 p.m. The winner advances to the championship round and earns a spot in next weekend’s Region 1-AAAA Tournament.
West Ridge will face Dobyns-Bennett in an elimination game at 7:30 p.m.
“Boone put up that four spot which made it a challenge there at the end,” noted the Wolves’ Hoover. “I’m proud of my guys for competing. I thought we did what we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win. Give Boone credit, they got guys on and were able to get some big hits to get those runs in late. I’m proud of our effort, we just have to come back tomorrow with that same mentality.”
West Ridge | 313 | 010 | 0 | -- | 8 | 12 | 1 |
Daniel Boone | 250 | 021 | x | -- | 13 | 12 | 1 |
West Ridge – Cade Duncan, Reagan Moore (2), Peyton Maines (5) and Josh Seto. Daniel Boone – Liam Strouth, Garrison Jones (3), Braydon Norton (6) and Jackson Utmans. W – Garrison Jones, L – Cade Duncan, S – Braydon Norton. 2B – Brayden Blankenship, West Ridge 2; Chandler Justice, Daniel Boone. 3B – Jackson Utsman, Daniel Boone. HR – Graham Jones, Daniel Boone (one on in 2nd). RBI – West Ridge 7 (Morgan Ward 2, Brayden Barr 2, Kas Click 2, Alex Ireson), Daniel Boone 11 (Graham Jones 4, Chandler Justice 2, Tim McGonigle, Ben Stevens, Brayden Blankenship, Slader Tinker, Jackson Utsman). SB – West Ridge 2 (Parker Senn, Kas Click), Daniel Boone 6 (Ethan Roller 2, Graham Jones 2, Chandler Justice, Brayden Blankenship). DP – Daniel Boone. LOB – West Ridge 9, Daniel Boone 5.
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