Sequoyah’s bats opened up the Chiefs’ Thursday contest with Tellico Plains.
Seven hits and 11 baserunners blew up an eight-run top of the sixth that charged the Chiefs to a 13-3 road win in six innings over the Bears.
Four Chief batters notched multi-hit days while the offense totaled 17 bases in Sequoyah’s first win since Spring Break.
“Overall a good team offensive day with eight different guys collecting hits tonight,” Sequoyah associate head coach CH Thomas — filling in for coach Josh Monhollen who was with his newborn — said. “We were aggressive on the bases and that was a big part of that sixth inning.”
The Bears (2-11) were very much in the contest ahead of the sixth inning. A pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning pulled the hosts within two runs of a tied ball game.
Hunter Russell started the inning by reaching on an error before Peyton Dodson pushed him to third with a single. Two batters later, Daren McJunkin’s single to shortstop scored Russell.
Tellico made another quick strike in the next at-bat. Will Sanders’ double into center field scored Dodson and left McJunkin 90 feet from cutting the deficit to one run.
However, the chance was stifled through a pop-out and a ground out, ending the inning short.
Sequoyah capitalized on its moment a half-inning later after picking up slower by comparison production throughout the game. The Chiefs (6-8) had five runs through the first four innings off five hits before opening up the contest.
Tellico held the barrage off as long as it could — even turning an influential double play in the top of the fifth - but the pressure from Sequoyah eventually broke through.
The sixth inning started with three hits in four at-bats, coming from Triston Tipton, Bryson Raper and Josh Britton, who smacked a two-RBI double into center field.
Luke Brackett added an RBI double two batters later before Dru Sasser sent Brackett home with the third double of the frame.
After a pair of walks, Tipton’s fielder’s choice scored Levi Johnson and Sasser. Two batters later, Raper pushed across another run with a single into left field.
“We struggled early with some mental mistakes and they kept us off balance early. We made the right adjustments and put the big inning together in the top of the sixth,” Thomas said.
Tellico picked up a run in the bottom of the third — trailing 4-0 — but the early innings are characterized by chances not taken.
Clint Moser and Dawson Edwards singled and a walk to Russell loaded the bases to start the third before Dodson’s left field flyout allowed Moser to tag up.
Primed to strike, a pop-out and ground out through four pitches ended a promising look.
One inning later, a pair of one-out walks created a spot for the Bears. A sacrifice bunt pushed the baserunners along, but Sequoyah’s Britton managed to get a timely strikeout.
Britton pitched five innings for the Chiefs, striking out three batters and allowing five hits before Aiden Cochran made his mound debut in a one-inning cameo.
Cochran struck out one batter and allowed no baserunners in the quick frame, tossing only nine pitches.
“Josh had another strong outing on the mound. He allowed us to be able to get an early lead and settle in the game. Aiden came in relief and did a great job in his first varsity work. We are excited about the future of Aiden on our pitching staff,” Thomas said.
It was a three-man effort from Tellico’s pitching staff. Keegan Collins tossed 47 pitches before being relieved by Rylan Saffles, who tossed three frames.
Edwards closed out the night with a 16-pitch outing.
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