Vikings hold off Crockett rally to claim District 1-3A crown

JOHNSON CITY — After a slow start, David Crockett mounted another improbable rally in the championship game of the District 1-3A baseball tournament Sunday afternoon at Thomas Stadium. But Tennessee High made sure the tortoise lost by a hair. Reliever Eli Peters got Crockett slugger A.J. Ford to pop out with the bases loaded and the Vikings held on for a 6-4 victory. Both teams advance to the region tournament, which will be hosted by Greeneville on Friday and Saturday. It was hard to see a photo finish developing on Sunday. Fourth-seeded Crockett, which overcame a three-run, sixth-inning deficit to defeat Daniel Boone on Friday, appeared flat against the Vikings after securing a region berth with a 6-4 win against Elizabethton on Saturday. In fact, Tennessee High starting pitcher Grant Mousle had a no-hitter going through four innings and was an out away from a one-hit shutout when the Pioneers' rally caps began to find some more magic. A walk, five straight singles and another walk cut the Vikings' lead to 6-3 with the top of order coming up. So, Tennessee High coach Preston Roberts relieved Moulse with left-hander Eli Peters. He proceeded to walk Kaden Lyle to make the score 6-4 and bring Ford to the plate. Ford battled, but ultimately popped up on a 3-2 pitch to end it. "I was really proud of the fact that Crockett makes their rally … but the defense was phenomenal as far as no body language, no emotion," Roberts said. "They just stayed in the moment. And I was really proud of them for that." Roberts and some of the Tennessee High players appeared to wonder if the strike zone shrunk in the final frame. "I'm guessing a couple of close calls that could've went either way – multiple pitches, multiple times, and for whatever reason, it wasn't meant to be," Roberts said. "And credit Crockett for taking close strikes or balls or whatever, and they rallied. Eli comes in with the bases loaded and does his thing. … "Eli's waited his turn. He hadn't pitched all tournament. … I know he's just a sophomore, just got his driver's license, whatever, but he's a cool customer. And he goes out in those moments and makes big pitches." Crockett second-year coach Brian Miller was relieved to see his team come to life, even if it was too little, too late. The bottom portion of the batting order produced four straight hits to help give the Pioneers a chance in the final frame. "I think we thought the game started at 2 (o'clock)," Miller said. "But we got up off the mat and showed a little fight. I'm proud of them. Boys, we competed. "If you'd told me at the first of the day that we've got A.J. up with bases loaded down two, I would've took it every day of the week. That's just how it goes. He got under one. But we answered, and finally woke up." Tennessee High set the tone early. Hudson Pender's RBI single highlighted a three-run first inning, which included two Crockett errors on a delayed double steal. The Vikings added two runs in the second inning. Hudson Pender's one-out RBI single extended the lead to 5-0. Tournament Most Valuable Player Knox Keesee drove in Dayne Musick with a one-out RBI single in the fourth to stretch the lead to six runs. "I just tried to shorten up and do my job with two strikes," Keesee said, "and found a hit." After Keesee's RBI, you wondered if the mercy rule might make an appearance. But the Pioneers rolled an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play which seemed to offer a spark. In the ensuing frame, Crockett's Nolan Street broke up the no-hitter with a two-out single. "Moulse just wore us out for a while," Miller said. "We finally got a hit and gave ourselves a chance. But boys, I'm telling ya, you tip your cap to Bristol. "They are going to be a tough out. They can play. They are solid. They swing the bat well and throw strikes and catch it." Roberts wasn't thrilled with the situation when Ford stepped to the plate with nowhere to put him. "I mean, that guy A.J. Ford – he's started since he was a freshman, I feel like," Roberts said. "I've got enough charts on him. And there it was, bases loaded, and if he splits a gap they probably take the lead, and a seeing-eye single ties the game. So that was a really great moment for Eli to get him out." Ford allowed three earned runs for the Pioneers, which will take on defending state champion Greeneville on Friday. The teams scrimmaged prior to the season. "They are very talented," Miller said. "I think until proven otherwise – you've gotta beat 'em. I mean, they've been there. They've been the bullies of the block, you know, and they're the team to go get. We'll get to find out early." Tennessee High will open against Grainger on Friday. All-District 1-AAA Most Valuable Player — Knox Keesee, Tennessee High Tanner Orth (Daniel Boone), J.D. Hooks (Elizabethton), Justin Whitehead (Elizabethton), Gage Graziano (Tennessee High), Hudson Pender (Tennessee High), Grant Moulse (Tennessee High), Brodie Meyers (Tennessee High), A.J. Ford (David Crockett), Carson Bradburn (David Crockett), Nolan Street (David Crockett)