EVENSVILLE — Four straight District 5-4A victories has propelled Walker Valley into the No. 2 seed, meaning they will host an opening round matchup in the upcoming league tournament.
After taking the district series against McMinn County last week, the Mustangs (9-13, 5-3 District 5-4A) opened this week with back-to-back wins over league sellar-dweller Rhea County (3-16, 0-8).
After galloping to a 12-2, five-inning affair in Evensville Monday, the Herd secured the second spot with a 5-1 win Tuesday, at Mike Turner Field.
"The district tournament will be at the two higher seeds. So if we did secure the No. 2 then we will host McMinn and Cleveland will host Rhea (in a best-of-3 series). That’ll start May 2," related Walker Valley head coach Wes Anderson.
"Might as well be a McMinn-WV series. That’s going to be an absolute dogfight. Always is when we see them."
The Mustangs will travel back to Evensville Thursday to wrap up the current series, before playing in the Trojan Classic this weekend. The Herd will travel to Chattanooga Friday evening to battle fourth-ranked (DII-AA) McCallie before facing No. 20 (4A) Wilson Central Saturday afternoon at Soddy-Daisy before playing the host Trojans as well.
Tuesday Game
MUSTANGS 5
EAGLES 1
Walker Valley picked up where it left off in Monday's double-digit win by putting four runs on the scoreboard in the first frame Tuesday.
After a 1,2,3 top of the first by senior lefty Titus Torbett, the Mustangs opened the bottom of the inning with back-to-back doubles juniors Jordan Smith and Felipe Castellanos, which plated the opening score.
A walk to senior Carson Minnix and classmate Conner Phillips "taking one for the team," the sacks were jammed when Kellar Stansel walked the line. Minnix and Phillips came home on a two-out Eagle error.
Neither team scored again until the visitors picked up a trio of singles in the top of the fifth, with Drew Massengill driving in Rhea lone run.
Walker Valley added its final run in the sixth when Jordan once again singled and his courtesy runner B. Croomes circled the bases when Castellanos followed with another hit.
Torbett improved to 3-1 on the season, with a 1.50 ERA by tossing the first five frames, striking out five, giving out a trio of free passes and scattering five.
Cooper Henry came on for a two shutout-inning save, notching three Ks, with just one walk and a hit allowed.
"Always good to get a win," proclaimed Coach Anderson. "Titus had another quality outing. Cooper Henry came in and does what he does, keeping hitters off balance. He’s been really great to turn to out of the pen this year."
Castellanos went 3-for-3, plus drew a walk, driving in a pair of runs, while Smith had a pair of hits.
Monday Game
MUSTANGS 12
EAGLES 2
"Get in, do the job, and go," is how Coach Anderson described Monday's victory at Rhea County.
"Good win today. We were seeing it well today, many guys with multiple hits.
"Carson (Minnix) with the 'big fly' was huge for morale early. We had a lot of two-out rallies today, two-out RBI — backbreakers.
"Braxton (Smith) was impressive again on the mound and Kellar (Stansel) looked great out of the pen," Coach Anderson added.
Walker Valley scored early and often Monday, putting up 3-spots in the first, second and fourth frames, plus a pair of runs in the third and one more in the fifth to end the game early.
Carson-Newman signee Braxton Smith led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on a double by classmate Conner Phillips to get the goose egg off the board.
Minnix, who was hit by a pitch, moved to third on the two-bagger before he and Phillips both scored a moment later on the first of three Eagle errors.
After Braxton Smith struck out the hosts on 15 pitches in the bottom of the first, the Herd was right back at it in the top of the second.
A pair of walks to Jordan Smith and Castellanos preceded Minnix "going yard" over the left-field fence to double the lead.
Rhea put their only runs on the board in the bottom of the second with a double from Massengill before a two-run blast by Kade Houston.
The visitors answered with a couple of scores of their own in the top of the third on back-to-back RBI-singles by the Smith brothers.
Minnix opened the top of the fourth with a single and later scored on a wild pitch, while Jordan Smith delivered a two-out double to plate a pair teammates.
The final score of the day came in the fifth as Stansel drilled a two-out double to bring Phillips, who has walked, home.
Walker Valley's offense pounded out 10 hits, plus took advantage of a half dozen free passes and the three Rhea miscues.
Jordan Smith, Minnix and Stansel each plated a trio of runs on two hits apiece, while Braxton Smith knocked a pair of hits and Phillips reached on his double and a walk.
