McCallie third baseman Griff Jayne makes a good defensive play on a ground ball hit by Christian Brothers' William Locke in the first inning of their game Wednesday in the Division II-AA state baseball tournament.
photo by Dennis Norwood
(Story has been updated)
LEBANON, Tenn. – Christian Brothers made life tough on McCallie’s baseball team again.
For the second straight year the Purple Wave knocked the Blue Tornado into the loser’s bracket of the Division II-AA state baseball tournament, this time with a dramatic 4-3 victory decided in the eighth inning on a wild pitch.
“In the winner’s bracket final, you’ve got to be perfect,” McCallie coach Greg Payne said. “And we weren’t.”
With the win Christian Brothers roared into the championship game on Thursday at Middle Tennessee State University at 12:30 p.m. local time.
McCallie fell into the loser’s bracket and was later eliminated when Brentwood Academy posted a 5-0 victory, scoring all of its runs in the first inning.
It was a pitcher’s duel throughout, pitting McCallie senior Carson McKoon and CBHS junior Jared Shemper.
The Blue Tornado got to Shemper for a run in the first inning and two more in the third.
Christian Brothers scored twice in the third and tied the game an inning later. It remained tied until the eighth when the Purple Wave ended it with the walk-off wild pitch by reliever Alex Tucker.
McKoon (8-0) worked seven innings and gave up three runs on six hits while striking out three and walking three. Only one of the runs was earned against him.
Tucker, who had been playing shortstop, relieved McKoon and struck out Shemper to start the CBHS eighth.
Tucker hit Landon Kelly, who went to second on a wild pitch. Griffin Allen was intentionally walked. Cam Pleasant hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Allen at second with Kelly racing to third.
With two out, Tucker's errant delivery got to the backstop and Kelly came home, his arms raised into the air in celebration even before the touched home plate, and the play set off a huge celebration among CBHS players.
“Pitching duels are always interesting,” said McKoon, a senior who will attend Division III Washington & Lee and play baseball for the Generals. “I would have liked to come out on top at the end though.”
On a much cooler day at Wilson Central High School than Tuesday, Payne said, “Both pitchers were really great executing great pitches in tough spots.
McCallie, trying to win its second state title in three years, got a first-inning leadoff single from Corbin Brooksbank, who then stole second and third. With two out Quinn Smith beat out an infield hit and Brooksbank scored and Smith went to second on an overthrow an errant throw.
In the third, Jackson Mathis reached on an error by CBHS shortstop William Locke. Brooksbank was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Max Riemer grounded out and Ethan Cady drew an intentional walk.
Shemper fanned Smith, but Tucker ripped a two-run single to left field to push McCallie’s lead to 3-0. Shemper finished with 11 strikeouts.
McKoon walked John Bland and Hayden Leatherwood starting the Purple Wave’s third inning. Both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Weston Bizzle reached on an error and Bland scored, Leatherwood went to third and then scored on Locke’s sacrifice fly.
“After that third inning I had to fill up the strike zone,” McKoon said. “I’m thankful that my coaches taught me how not to be overwhelmed in situations like today.”
Allen started the CBHS fourth with a single to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Bland’s two-out single. Leatherwood singled, but McKoon retired Bizzle on a bouncer back to the mound.
McKoon controlled the Purple Wave over the next three innings, allowing just one hit and two baserunners.
Payne then made the decision to pull McKoon and bring in Tucker.
“Had we gotten the lead in the top of the inning, we would have stuck with Carson,” Payne said. “But he had thrown 111 pitches and hadn’t thrown that many all year.”
McKoon wanted to answer the bell in the eighth.
“I knew my pitch count was up, but I wanted to finish what I started,” he said. “The coaches said later that if we had got the lead they were going to let me go back out there.
“I didn’t do my best in the third inning, but I got settled down and pitched better the rest of the game.”
Boxscore
McCallie 102 000 00 – 3 7 2
Christian Brothers 002 100 01 – 4 6 2
McKeon, Tucker (7) and Smith; Shemper and Allen.
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow on Twitter @larryfleming44)
Christian Brothers left-hander Jared Shemper delivers a pitch against McCallie in the Division II-AA state baseball tournament on Wednesday at Wilson Central High School. CBHS edged the Blue Tornado 4-3 in eight innings and Shemper went the distance.
photo by Dennis Norwood