Signal Mountain's Brennen Weigert attempts to turn a double play against Hixson. The Eagles won their third consecutive game against the Wildcats to win the District 6-AA championship Wednesday.Scott Payne has been a tough batter to get out lately.
Signal Mountain's leadoff hitter was a driving force behind the 44 runs the Eagles scored in three games to run away with the District 6-AA tournament plaque.
After reaching base all four times in Wednesday's 8-3 championship victory over fierce rival Hixson, Payne collected the newest piece of hardware and was quick to share it with his teammates.
Signal Mountain's Scott Payne rounds third base to score on a RBI single by Mark Jones in the sixth inning of the District 6-AA championship game Wednesday at Hixson. The Eagles beat the hosts 8-3 and have scored 44 runs in three postseason games this spring."We put forth all we have for this team," said Payne, who had an RBI double, a bunt single and scored three runs in the road win. "We play as one and win as one. If one person is down, we bring them back up and keep the intensity high. My goals at the plate are to hit it where it's pitched and run as fast as I can."
The senior left fielder opened the tournament Sunday against Red Bank by cranking his first two high school home runs in the same inning, a solo shot and a grand slam, and the offense has been rolling ever since. That includes Payne driving in 10 runs.
Mark Jones drove in three runs for Signal Mountain (24-9), while Collins Poole widened the gap in the sixth with a line-drive single to left that drove in two runs.
Signal Mountain starter Hunter Davis lasted 5 1/3 innings and was the winning pitcher in Wednesday's District 6-AA championship win over Hixson."Our guys are really clicking offensively. Their extra time in the cages is paying off," Eagles coach Josh Gandy said. "We have guys that jell together and genuinely care about each other on and off the field. They are writing their own story this postseason."
Finn Megahee had six RBIs for Signal Mountain, which has won three straight meetings with the Wildcats (26-10) after losing to them in last year's district championship game and the regular-season opener.
Hunter Davis picked up his sixth win of the season, pitching 5 1/3 innings before handing the ball to Smith, who earned his third save of the season after entering with a two-run lead.
Sam Witherspoon added three hits for Signal Mountain, and Drew Lowry scored twice and made a diving catch to record the first out of the seventh.
Signal Mountain senior Scott Payne watches the RBI double off his bat in the fourth inning Wednesday at Hixson. Payne reached base all four times and scored three runs to help the Eagles win the District 6-AA championship.Hixson's Manny Velasquez had two hits and scored twice, and district player of the year Jack Julian and Alex Rollins both drove in runs.
In Monday's Region 3-AA semifinals, where the losing teams will be eliminated from the postseason, the Eagles will host Meigs County and the Wildcats will travel to Loudon. The winners will play for the region title.
"I hope we can both meet up again Wednesday," Hixson coach Colton Green said. "We made it to sectionals in 2014, and then three of the last four years we have lost the Monday region game by one run. I think our chances are as good as anybody with Jack on the hill along with our lineup."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.