CLEVELAND, Tenn. — It wasn't easy but 18th-ranked Cleveland notched its second straight 20-win season, nipping Rhea County in the opening round of the District 5-4A Tournament.
After getting all of their runs in their first at bat, the Lady Raiders (20-13) held on for a 4-3 win, their third in four games with the Lady Eagles this season.
With the win, second-seeded Cleveland advances for a showdown with third-ranked Walker Valley (25-5-1) in Monday's winner's bracket final.
The teams split their two regular season meetings by identical 5-3 a scores.
The Feisty Fillies, who edged Cleveland for the top seed on a tie-breaker, knocked off No. 4 seed McMinn County 9-1 Friday evening.
Rhea County (10-15) and the Lady Cherokees (8-18) will battle in an elimination game Monday at 5, at Larry Haney Field.
The double-elimination tournament will continue Tuesday with the loser's bracket final and the championship game. If a second title game is needed it will be held Wednesday.
With Mother Nature causing problems, Cleveland ended up hosting Rhea instead of playing later at Walker Valley, trying to beat the rain.
The Lady Eagles let the hosts know immediately they came to play, getting a trio of base runners on in the game's opening at bat, but the Lady Raider defense rose to the occasion, including a 4-6-3 double play.
In the bottom of the inning, Cleveland answered with its first four batters reaching and scoring before an out was recorded.
After a walk to Furman signee Lily O'Bryan, sophomore Landri Nelson sliced an opposite field single. Junior Allison Farnsworth plated the first run on a bunt single, that saw O'Bryan score from second base.
Roane State signee Ashley Allen then helped her own cause by blasting her 10th home run of the season — a three-run shot over the right field wall.
After a scoreless second, the girls from Evensville began to mount a comeback with a pair of runs in the top of the third.
Cammie Ruehling walked to open the frame. Lakin Lockhart followed with a single and and Olivia Day beat out a bunt single to jam the sacks.
Alli Shaver then ripped a triple to drive in a pair, but Day was cut down at the plate on a throw from right fielder Reagan Campbell with a relay from Farsnworth.
Shaver was also stopped shy of scorer in a fielder's choice ground ball to Nelson at shortstop to end the rally.
Neither teams could push a run across in the fourth and fifth frames, but Rhea cut the difference to a run in the top of the sixth.
After a leadoff single by Chelsea Reel nailed Allen in the circle and ricocheted into left field, Cleveland coach KJ Harris made a change — flip flopping Allen to first and O'Bryan to the circle.
After the first Lady Eagle was "plunked" an error allowed the run to score.
O'Bryan bounced back with four straight strikeout, a ground out to first and a fly ball out to save the victory.
Allen went five innings with a trio of strikeouts, four walks, four hits allowed and a couple of earned runs for the victory.
Nelsona nd Farnsworth both knocked a couple of hits in the victory, while Alexis Folts, Ja'Maya Hill and Campbell each had a safety.
Lockhart and Shaver had a pair of hits for Rhea.
Game Summary
District 5-4A Tournament
Friday, May 3
at Brenda Lawson Field
Rhea County 002 001 0 — 3 4 1
Cleveland 400 000 x — 4 8 4
Day, Reel (4) and Wilson; Allen, O'Bryan (6) and Mason.
WP: Ashley Allen. LP: Olivia Day. Records: Rhea County 10-15; Cleveland 20-13.
(Contact Joe Cannon at joe.cannon@clevelandbanner.com)