Tellico young players contributed to team’s fifth win of year

Heath Ware has been patiently waiting for the moment his younger players show they have been learning this season.

That process showed Thursday with the Bears’ (5-15) six-inning 11-1 win over Copper Basin.

Returning home for the series finale, Tellico completed a season sweep of the Cougars behind five runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the night early.

Peyton Dodson led the Bears with three RBIs followed by two from sophomore Dawson Edwards and one each from Cole Kirkland, sophomore Clint Moser and freshmen Kaden Kirkland and Caden McConkey.

Edwards doubled while underclassmen Kaden Kirkland, Edwards and Moser matched Dodson, Cole Kirkland and Kyle Duckworth with one-hit days.

“It is awesome man. This is what I have been looking for all year. The experience comes and they are going to get better,” Tellico Plains coach Heath Ware said. “Just keep working — they have done that and I am proud for them. Awesome group.”

Tellico came from behind for its fifth win of the season and first in 16 days. The Bears only have two games on their posted schedule ahead of a District 3-2A play-in visit to No. 3 Kingston.

“It can give us a little confidence going into the district tournament. Maybe it gets their hopes up thinking we can play a little bit,” Ware said. “Maybe we can put in a good effort when we go play with Kingston.”

Coming from down 1-0, Tellico turned a series of two-out walks into runs. Keegan Collins, Kaden Kirkland and Moser were walked to load the bases while a walk to Edwards and Dodson's hit in a 2-0 count moved the hosts ahead.

One inning later, Tellico extended its lead with a swing. Cole Kirkland’s double brought in Sanders. Cole Kirkland later stole home for a 4-1 Tellico lead.

The Bears added two more runs in the middle innings off Copper Basin errors before exploding for five in the sixth.

Kaden Kirkland and Moser — batting towards the bottom of the order — smacked consecutive RBI singles before Edwards’ double pushed the Bears in front by nine.

Dodson closed the contest out by singling and scoring Edwards and Moser.

It was just not offensively where the Bears succeeded. Tellico limited errors and base runners throughout the night.

Sophomore Roper Gudger allowed two hits and struck out four batters through three innings. Dodson struck out two and walked one at the same time.

Gudger has been battling back onto the mound after an arm injury. Tellico’s staff planned to give him 30 pitches, but Gudger worked past the threshold, tossing 48 pitches.

“For him to come in there and fill the mitt, he did a good job. That is what we have looked for, someone to step up on the mound,” Ware said.