Hilltoppers top D-B to secure region berth, West Ridge survives

JOHNSON CITY — The third time against Dobyns-Bennett was the charm for Science Hill's baseball team. Cole ReSue allowed one run in four innings of relief and the Hilltoppers jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held on to defeat the Indians, 5-3, in the winners' bracket final of the District 1-4A tournament on Thursday evening at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Second-seeded Science Hill, which dropped both decisions to D-B during the regular season, secured a region berth with the victory. It will play in the championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m. Top-seeded Dobyns-Bennett will play for the second and final region berth when it takes on West Ridge on Friday at 6 p.m. The Hilltoppers appeared relatively loose, but Science Hill coach Ryan Edwards said he didn't feel like his squad had any sort of psychological edge after dropping two to its archrival. "No, because we were still pressing to try and figure out how we can get back on top," Edwards said. "When they beat you twice, I feel like that gets in your head. … Obviously, they won the biggest game last year by winning that region game. You can't look back too much. You've just gotta focus on the task at hand. "This one was important. It gets us in the region." Science Hill took command with four runs in the top of the second. Owen Lewis and Aiden Vermillion started the scoring with back-to-back RBI singles, and Carter McKinney capped the frame with a two-run single. The Hilltoppers added a run in the third. Max Brian led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored by stealing home. Brian broke for the plate as soon as the catcher flipped the ball back to the pitcher. "It was huge, because at that point they were gaining some momentum," Edwards said. "If they strand that runner they're gonna go in really excited." The Indians scored two in the third, which was aided by two Science Hill errors. Andrew Reilly scored Jaylen Thomas with a two-out RBI double, and Reilly came home on a throwing error. Science Hill starter Maddox Francis allowed one earned run in three-plus innings. "He pitched well," Edwards said. "He did as much as we could've asked for. I felt like he was getting tired (in the fourth)." So, Edwards went to ReSue. After striking out the side in his first inning, the future Walters State player stranded runners at second and third base in the fifth and sixth. ReSue struck out five and walked one. "He beared down and got us," Dobyns-Bennett coach Ryan Wagner said. "He made pitches. He got that third out for 'em. This time of year you've gotta get some big hits, and we kind of struggled there. "But, I mean, he's a good pitcher. He's a 90-mile-an-hour guy. He's not going to Walters State for nothing." The victory was especially gratifying when considering the Hilltoppers are without three key players (Sam Royston, Caden Wells, Cooper Greer) that were playing at the beginning of the season due to injuries. Royston and Greer are out for the season. Wells said he will return for the region tournament. West Ridge 5, Morristown West 2 In the nightcap, Dale Martin-led West Ridge had to work overtime to defeat Morristown West. Martin pitched a complete game and went 3-for-5 at the plate as the Wolves prevailed, 5-2, in nine innings. Martin allowed three hits, walked two and struck out five. "I just had to keep pounding the zone and let the defense play behind me," Martin said. "They'll get the outs for ya. … It feels great." West Ridge trailed 2-0 entering the top of the seventh. But Martin led off the frame with a single, Cam Smith followed with a walk and Isaac McGee reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Tyson Jones drove in the Wolves first run with a no-out single to center field. Parker Senn tied the score with a two-out infield single. Reagan Moore delivered the game-winning hit, a two-run double with one out in the ninth. Ty Malak's RBI ground-out concluded the scoring. "There in the seventh inning we gave ourselves a chance," West Ridge coach Mike Hoover said. "As long as you compete and play clean baseball and give yourselves an opportunity, good things can happen."