Blackman baseball performed beyond expectations

D.J. Wright had just walked out of a high school baseball dugout for the last time as a player.

He stopped to consider what he and his Blackman teammates had accomplished.

"Nobody expected us to get out of district," Wright said. "We were ranked fifth at the beginning of the year. Our goals were to get through districts, and then regionals, and then sectionals, and then the state championship.

"But sadly, that last one didn't happen."

Blackman's first state tournament berth in eight years came to an end Wednesday afternoon at Siegel. The Blaze, who won their tournament opener on Tuesday, were twice beaten when their opponent scored in its final at-bat.

More:Spring Fling Day 3: Wednesday's top performers

Brentwood beat Blackman 6-2 on a walk-off grand slam shortly after lunchtime. A couple of hours later, Dobyns-Bennett eliminated the Blaze, scoring on a double steal in the bottom of the sixth and then holding on for a 4-3 victory.

More:TSSAA's Spring Fling schedule

Wright is one of six seniors who played his last game for Blackman.

"It's a testament to them and a testament to everyone in our program," Blackman coach Justin Entrekin said. "It's a testament to the work that's going in our program, even prior to this season. This is my second group of four-year seniors and they built on what the previous group did."

Blackman finished 29-12, winning the regular-season District 7-AAA title, claiming the Region 4-AAA tournament crown and then beating Walker Valley in the sectional.

"That's big for the school and the community," Wright said. "They have a chance next year."

Even on a day when their season ended, the Blaze never quit. In the first game, Connor Mitchell singled home the tying run with two outs in the seventh. In the second game, Wright hit a game-tying three-run homer.

It wasn't enough  barely.

"Anytime you're in a game like this," Entrekin said, "you always want one more clutch hit, one more clutch play, one more clutch hit."

"Whatever happens happens," Wright said. "Today just wasn't our day."