After two games, 14 innings, and a pair of strong pitching and defensive showcases, Sweetwater baseball is heading back to the Class 2A sectional series.
A 3-1 win over McMinn Central in the Region 2-2A consolation game cemented Sweetwater’s second-straight spot in the final 16 teams in the state hours after a 3-1 heartbreaking loss to Marion County left the program shy of another region championship.
“With the program coming as far as it has, being able to do that in the postseason and being that deep in the postseason … the expectations are high,” Sweetwater coach Travis Watson said. “It is almost like we are expected to do it now. But we are really enjoying the win and being able to move on.”
Kai Correll — the co-player of the year for District 3-2A — pitched a gem, going seven innings in the championship before Caleb Powell — District 3-2A’s co-pitcher of the year — went the distance in the consolation game, qualifying Sweetwater for the sectional series.
“They are both equally as good. You are going to go with your strength as much as you can,” Watson said.
Powell and Correll combined for seven strikeouts and four runs allowed across 14 innings.
“We had Tucker (Lorenz) available, but he did throw 70 pitches Tuesday, so it would have been in relief. We could have gone to him with runners on base or go with Blaine (Watson) to start an inning — we have a plan for each one,” Watson added. “When you get really good starting pitching that gets you deep in the game … it is pretty easy once we get past the fifth inning. It is those fourth and fifth innings that you have to make big calls with matchups.”
Junior Cade Houser caught 14 innings behind the plate.
“Hats off to Cade Houser. He caught 14 innings today, it is a tough park with a massive backstop,” Watson said. “It is probably 50 feet from the plate to the backstop. You do not have room for error if a ball gets away. They could get two bases.”
Houser played a clean game behind the plate with two earned runs and no passed balls in the consolation game.
“That goes unnoticed, but not for me. Cade caught all day and I think he gave up four runs on the day. I always include the catcher because he is just as important as the pitcher,” Watson said. “He is a part of that duo and the guys love throwing to him. It is a really good team win coming back from a gut-wrenching loss.”
After losing the championship at the mid-day, Sweetwater met McMinn Central for the sixth time this season, with the loser being eliminated.
“It was probably really good to have a game between us where we could grab something to eat, sit back and prepare for the next game,” Watson said. “It is really tough to turn back around and have to play again right after that. We were all down — including the coaching staff.
“We have come this far and are this close, but we just did not get it done. Baseball gave us another opportunity.”
Region Consolation: Sweetwater 3, McMinn Central 1: Sweetwater’s seniors led the way in the must-win nightcap. RBIs came from Powell and Lorenz while Powell went the full seven innings on the mound, striking out two while allowing five hits and one run.
“They stepped up. Blaine made plays defensively all game and made some pretty crucial plays,” Watson said.
An ankle injury has limited Watson, but the senior totaled four putouts with no errors. Watson was part of a double play with freshmen Bryson Burgess and Brody Watson after Central found their lone run in the sixth inning.
Sweetwater’s final out came against Hunter Rayburn, who was three for three at that point. With the tying run at the plate, Rayburn popped out to Powell.
“We are trying to best decision — do we go to Richesin? All he could do is tie it if he hits it out and Caleb’s pitch count was really low,” Watson said. “If he could get four hits I would tip my hat, so we elected to stay with Caleb and he was able to get him out with a curveball.”
Central’s best chance came early on. A leadoff single and a walk put two on, but a fielder’s choice to Blaine Watson got the lead runner. A pair of pop-outs to Lorenz and Brody Watson ended the threat.
“You don’t know how the outcome of that game comes out if they were able to scratch a couple of runs off in the first inning. Our defense made great plays and that was probably the biggest opportunity they had to score,” Watson said.
Lorenz scored Correll with a two-out single to open the scoring in the third inning. One inning later, Powell’s single scored Brody Watson and set up Nolan Dacus to reach home through an error.
“Once we scored I felt like we were more loose. Tyler Oaks is very good and was throwing hard — he is probably one of the better pitchers in Class 2A in the state,” Watson said. “For us to hang in there and minimize strikeouts was big. That forced their defense to make a lot more plays.”
Oaks struck out four batters and walked four on the day. In the District 3-2A championship, Oaks struck out 11.
Region Championship: Marion County 3, Sweetwater 1: Correll tossed a gem that was worthy of a region championship but fell short of the prize.
The senior allowed three hits and walked none.
“Kai threw a gem. A three-hitter, did not walk anybody and lost. People will forget about Kai’s game, but Kai pitched really well in the first game,” Watson said.
Sweetwater took a lead in the second inning. Brody Watson led off with a double before Dacus pushed him across the plate with a single.
Sweetwater’s defense held Marion County to five hitless innings. Offensively, Sweetwater found five hits of its own, but could not capitalize.
“We just could not get anything going offensively. We did not get a hit when we needed it and they made all the plays,” Watson said. “We had seven innings and it felt like something was going to finally break. Their guy made big pitches when he had to.”
Sweetwater will travel to Pigeon Forge for the Class 2A sectional series, a rematch of last year’s series in Sweetwater.
“They have a really good program. When you think of Class 2A baseball you think of Pigeon Forge,” Watson said. “Everyone knows them and they have a rich tradition. It will be fun and we will go up there and try to get after them. Kind of see where we stand.”
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