The Distirct 7AA title comes down to one game, today at 5 p.m. as Chattanooga Christian hosts defending champion Signal Mountain.
In a must-win situation, CCS went on the road Monday, used a key 8–run, sixth inning and posted a 13-3 win against Signal Mountain.
The Chargers (21-3-1, 14-1-0) were led by Chris King (2-3, 4 RBIs, HR) and Johnny Rhodes (2-4, 2 RBIs), while starter Matthew Mercer (2-4, 1 Run) improved to 5-1 on the season with a 5-hit, 6-strikeout complete game win.
CCS started strong with a 2-run first inning keyed by two walks and a Rhodes RBI single, but The host Eagles (22-6-0, 13-1-0) tied the game in the fourth on three hits, including a 2-run, RBI double by Grant Galbraith.
It was the first earned runs allowed by Mercer this season, but the senior headed to play at East Tennessee State next year, settled down and allowed only one run on two hits the final three innings.
The visitors came right back in the fifth using a hit batsman, a SM error and an RBI King single to re-take the lead 4-2 before the important 8-run sixth.
In the sixth, CCS sent 12 men to the plate for six hits, including King’s 3-rum home run over the left field wall and an RBI triple to right by Nathanael Kapp.
“We gave up too many free bases (6 walks, 4 errors, 2 hit batsmen) and CCS is good at taking advantage of a team’s mistakes,” said Signal Mountain coach Josh Gandy.
CCS coach Ben Wharten said, “Matthew battled today, kept Signal from having a big inning and gave us a chance offensively.”
Lefty’s and 11s: Starters Matthew Mercer (CCS) and Seth Wicker (SM) are both left-handed throwers and wear No.11 … Mercer is headed to ETSU next season and Wicker will pitch for Lee Univ.
First Home Run: CCS catcher Chris King hit his first CCS career home run – a 3-run shot to left in the sixth – and also threw out a pair of SM runners … “Before tonight, I hit a home run in summer ball last summer, but this is my first home run at CCS,”said King with a smile after the game.
First Earned Runs: CCS starter Matthew Mercer allowed his first earned runs of the season - two in the fourth and one in the sixth.
CCS 13, SM 3
CCS 200 028 1 – 13-9-2
SM 000 200 0 – 3-5-4
WP – Matthew Mercer LP Seth Wicker
HS – King (CCS)
Doubles: Galbraith (SM)
Triple: Kapp (CCS)
RBIs: King (CCS),4 … Wheeler (CCS), 2 … Rhodes (CCS), 2 … Galbraith (SM), 2