By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
PRINCETON -- Coach Lee James' Hopkins County Central baseball team pulled off a bit of a shocker on Monday evening by sending host Caldwell County packing in the 7th District Tournament at V.F.W. Ballpark.
Although the Storm (12-11) entered with a better record, the Tigers (12-16) beat Central 10-0 during the regular season and held home-field advantage for the postseason matchup. Neither fact aided Caldwell in a 15-2 five-inning Central victory on Monday.
"I think we had that underdog mentality today," James said. "I don't think many people gave us much of any chance to win this game, let alone in five.
"I don't think many people -- I think some people probably didn't even come to this game because they thought Caldwell was probably going to hand it to us pretty easily. I think the guys heard that and took that (underdog) approach."
Visiting Central scored seven times in the top of the first inning to take a lead the squad never surrendered. Each of the Storm's first five batters came around to score and 11 hitters came up to the plate.
Designated hitter Austin Johnston got the scoring going with a two-run single that fell at the base of the right field fence. Then, Quentin Gordon ripped an RBI double. Cody Nesmith and Will Miller scored runs on a pair of sacrifices and Micah Rorer knocked in a run on his second hit of the inning.
On the mound, junior Ethan Smith established himself early by striking out at least two in the first three innings.
Although the Storm (12-11) entered with a better record, the Tigers (12-16) beat Central 10-0 during the regular season and held home-field advantage for the postseason matchup. Neither fact aided Caldwell in a 15-2 five-inning Central victory on Monday.
"I think we had that underdog mentality today," James said. "I don't think many people gave us much of any chance to win this game, let alone in five.
"I don't think many people -- I think some people probably didn't even come to this game because they thought Caldwell was probably going to hand it to us pretty easily. I think the guys heard that and took that (underdog) approach."
Visiting Central scored seven times in the top of the first inning to take a lead the squad never surrendered. Each of the Storm's first five batters came around to score and 11 hitters came up to the plate.
Designated hitter Austin Johnston got the scoring going with a two-run single that fell at the base of the right field fence. Then, Quentin Gordon ripped an RBI double. Cody Nesmith and Will Miller scored runs on a pair of sacrifices and Micah Rorer knocked in a run on his second hit of the inning.
On the mound, junior Ethan Smith established himself early by striking out at least two in the first three innings.
"I just count on him to do that," James said about his starter. "Anything less than that anymore is sub-par for him. He knows his job and he goes out and does it.
"We gave him some runs early and he was able to pitch easy as we call it. Pitching is never easy, but when you have a seven-run lead then it becomes easier, if you let it."
Caldwell leadoff hitter Brandon Sigler tagged one of Smith's mistakes though on a 3-2 count in the third. Sigler sent the pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run. The Tigers scored their only other run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly.
The Storm bats fell silent during the second and third, but found the mark again in the fourth with eight more runs. During the outburst, Johnston, Nesmith, Miller, Tyler Harris and Coleman Ladd each contributed at least one RBI.
By game's end, Central tallied 14 hits and defensively did not commit an error after making 24 in the team's last two contests. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Storm.
The win reiterated James' belief in his team even when they were down last week.
"I told everybody, I'm not worried about this team physically," he said. "If we can get mentally ready to play, they physically can do the job they need to do."
Smith finished the game with nine strikeouts and did not walk a batter. He allowed just three hits.
Offensively, Quentin Gordon ended the day a perfect 4-for-4 with one RBI. Rorer recorded three hits and one RBI. Ladd and Johnston each plated three runs on two hits. Miller ended the game with two RBIs and one hit.
Central's win sets up an all-Hopkins County Championship game as the Storm will play Madisonville-North Hopkins at 6 p.m. today for the 7th District crown.
At 12-11, James said he knows his team will be underdogs throughout the rest of the postseason, but he doesn't mind the title.
"We like that role," he said. "We'll take that."
Central (12-11) 700 80 - 15 14 0
Caldwell (12-16) 001 10 - 2 3 3
WP: Ethan Smith. LP: T.J. Gilkey.
"We gave him some runs early and he was able to pitch easy as we call it. Pitching is never easy, but when you have a seven-run lead then it becomes easier, if you let it."
Caldwell leadoff hitter Brandon Sigler tagged one of Smith's mistakes though on a 3-2 count in the third. Sigler sent the pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run. The Tigers scored their only other run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly.
The Storm bats fell silent during the second and third, but found the mark again in the fourth with eight more runs. During the outburst, Johnston, Nesmith, Miller, Tyler Harris and Coleman Ladd each contributed at least one RBI.
By game's end, Central tallied 14 hits and defensively did not commit an error after making 24 in the team's last two contests. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Storm.
The win reiterated James' belief in his team even when they were down last week.
"I told everybody, I'm not worried about this team physically," he said. "If we can get mentally ready to play, they physically can do the job they need to do."
Smith finished the game with nine strikeouts and did not walk a batter. He allowed just three hits.
Offensively, Quentin Gordon ended the day a perfect 4-for-4 with one RBI. Rorer recorded three hits and one RBI. Ladd and Johnston each plated three runs on two hits. Miller ended the game with two RBIs and one hit.
Central's win sets up an all-Hopkins County Championship game as the Storm will play Madisonville-North Hopkins at 6 p.m. today for the 7th District crown.
At 12-11, James said he knows his team will be underdogs throughout the rest of the postseason, but he doesn't mind the title.
"We like that role," he said. "We'll take that."
Central (12-11) 700 80 - 15 14 0
Caldwell (12-16) 001 10 - 2 3 3
WP: Ethan Smith. LP: T.J. Gilkey.
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