U.S. College National Team holds on for win over Appy League West Select

Axmen, Flyboys win with reduced rosters

(WJHL) – It was an unorthodox night for the Appalachian League on Tuesday, particularly for the teams in the West Division.

A handful of the division’s best players left their clubhouses for a night to battle the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (CNT) in Johnson City. At least four players from each West Division squad were called upon.

After a relatively quiet start to the game – two scoreless innings – Tre Phelps (Georgia) cleared the bases for the CNT in the third with a triple. He would then score on a throwing error, making it a 4-0 lead for the visitors.

West Select answered in the bottom half, as Gunner Boree (Johnson City) belted an RBI double off the wall in left field. It was a 4-2 ballgame after three innings.

The CNT extended the lead to 6-2 in the following frame and it was a 7-4 contest headed into the last of the ninth. West Select put the pressure on, scoring a pair of runs in its final at-bats.

However, the CNT escaped with a 7-6 win.

First place was on the line in the Appalachian League West as the Doughboys traveled down to face the Flyboys.

Greeneville opened an early advantage, scoring four in the first inning. Johnson City rallied late, but fell short, 8-6.

Chase Bloomer notched three RBI for the Doughboys in defeat, while BJ Peart and Brady Francisco each drove in a pair for the Flyboys. Jake Kennedy picked up the win on the mound, allowing just one run in 6.0 innings of work, while striking out six batters.

In Elizabethton, the Axmen pushed past the River Riders, 7-2.

Jet Gilliam added three more RBI to his summer total in the win, pushing him up to 20 on the young season. Meanwhile, Kyle Kipp allowed no runs on just one hit for Kingsport on the mound in 5.0 solid innings.

OTHER SCORES:

River Turtles 6, State Liners 1

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