Arias’ Slam Highlights Flyboys' Comeback Win Over Kingsport

Through four innings on Saturday night at Pioneer Park, the Greeneville Flyboys mustered just one hit and trailed the Kingsport Axmen 7-0.

In the fifth inning, though, Greeneville erupted for six runs and parlayed that outburst into a 15-7 win.

Greeneville’s six-run fifth was capped by a two-out grand slam from Nick Arias.

“This team is never out of it,” Greeneville manager Jack Wilson said. “We have good arms, we have obviously a very good lineup that can run and run fast. They put up really good at bats throughout the course of the game. They know they’re never out of a game. Obviously, Nick Arias hitting that grand slam was a huge turning point in that game, bringing us within one. That’s what these guys can do anytime, so you never really feel out of it.”

The come-from-behind win clinched the Appalachian League West Division title for Greeneville.

“The kids have worked hard the entire year,” Wilson said. “It’s been a lot of fun watching them play and compete. We have really good talent on the mound. We put it on them to come to win a game, every day, and not just go through summer ball, and they’ve done a great job.”

After a strikeout to start the Flyboys’ fifth, Dylan Jackson singled and Avery Collins doubled. Mycah Jordan and Tyler Inge both hit RBI singles to make it 7-2. After a pop fly put two outs on the board, Nicklas Williams loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch.

Arias then cleared the wall in left field by nearly 20 feet to pull Greeneville within 7-6.

“It was funny, we were talking about it,” Wilson recalled the moments before Arias’ hit. “We were like, ‘We haven’t seen a Nick Arias homer yet.’ He led his team at junior college with five and sure enough, it was like two pitches later. He has that in him. He’s such a good handsy hitter. He hits a lot of balls to right field. He put a really good swing on that pitch.”

To Arias, the slam was redemption after Greeneville’s loss to Kingsport on Friday.

“It feels great,” Arias said. “Just never giving up. We lost a close one yesterday and we just came into today knowing all we need is one. Just keep pushing the pedal to the metal and we came out with the dub.

“It felt great just to be put in that situation,” he added. “I was just trying not to do too much and just stay with the plan, stay with the approach. I knew they were going to try to beat me inside but I just got out in front.”

In the sixth inning, after Greeneville pitcher Ethan Davis retired three in a row, the Flyboys took the lead.

BJ Peart was hit by a pitch and Dylan Jackson walked to open the bottom of the inning. Collins then put down a bunt and reached on an error. The error allowed Peart to score to tie it 7-7, but Jackson was thrown out at home on the play.

Greeneville loaded the bases and Williams worked a walk to push the Flyboys ahead 8-7.

After the Flyboys took the lead, they were on the favorable end of a controversial call, one that might have had a significant swing in momentum.

In the top of the seventh, Kingsport had put runners on first and second. With two out, the Axmens’ Ty Denton hit a line drive to right field that would’ve driven in the game-tying run, but right fielder Jordan gunned it to his catcher Collins for the final out.

The ball came loose on the tag and Kingsport manager Rick Adair was adamant that Collins never had the ball in the glove at all. So adamant that his frustration over the call got him and the Axmens’ hitting coach David Newhan, who was also voicing his opinion, ejected from the game.

With momentum on the Flyboys’ side, Greeneville pinch-hitter Rintaro Sasaki kicked off the Flyboys’ seventh inning with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw to make it 9-7.

Greeneville drove in six more runs in the eighth. Johnston hit a two-run triple, followed by a Williams RBI double. Williams and Arias would score the next two runs on wild pitches and a Dylan Jackson single made it 15-7.

“Hitting is contagious,” Wilson said. “Pass the baton and give it to the next hitter. Not only that, but they were also drawing walks and being patient. That’s part of winning games, to not just go up there and swing. They had a plan going up there.”

Greeneville finished with 11 hits. Arias led the way with two hits, including the grand slam. Collins and Jackson each had two hits, with Jackson driving in a run. Williams and Johnston each had a hit and two RBI, and Jordan, Sasaki and Inge each had a hit and an RBI.

Davis got the win on the mound. He pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, gave up two hits and struck out one.

“I think Ethan Davis came in after (Hunter) Sloop and did a really good job getting us through a couple innings and getting us out of a jam,” Wilson said. “Defensively, we feel pretty good with the guys we have out there on a daily basis. We cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Very good hands and very good infielders.”

Sloop drew the start and worked 3 1/3 innings. He gave up six hits, seven runs, walked four and struck out two.

Brock Toney pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck out four, and Brady Frederick closed the ninth with a hit and three strikeouts.

FRIDAY’S GAME Kingsport 6 Greeneville 5

Kingsport outhit Greeneville 14-9 on Friday at Pioneer Park.

The Flyboys led 3-1 after one inning. Arias and Johnston each hit RBI singles and Sasaki had a sacrifice fly.

Kingsport closed the gap to 3-2 when Jack Torbett stole home as Mason Sweeney stole second.

The Axmen took the lead in the sixth with three runs. Nico Newhan hit a two-run double and Tyree Jackson hit an RBI single to make it 5-3, Kingsport.

Greeneville was able to tie the game in their ensuing at bat. Johnston opened the inning with a single and was brought home on a Peart groundout. With two outs and a man on, both Jordan Lewis and Inge worked walks to load the bases. Then, Brady Francisco took a pitch to the body, pushing the tying run in.

It wasn’t until the top of the ninth that the tie was broken. Kingsport’s Devan Zirwas hit a deep sacrifice fly which scored the go-ahead run.

Greeneville nearly sent the game into extra innings when Mycah Jordan hit a two-out triple but a pop fly gave Kingsport the final out needed to close out the win.

Blake Julius drew the start on the mound, throwing 5 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits, five runs (four earned), walking two and striking out three. Tyler Jackson (2-2) took the loss, throwing 3 1/3 innings, giving up five hits, one unearned run, walking two and striking out four.

Johnston was 2-for-5 with one RBI. Arias, Sasaki and Francisco had one hit and one RBI each and Lewis, Jordan, Dylan Jackson and Williams all had one hit.