Baseball: GCA advances to state quarterfinals

The Grace Christian Academy baseball team advanced to the Division II-A state quarterfinals by using a fast start at Silverdale Academy and collecting a 16-7 victory on Saturday.

GCA plated eight runs in the first inning and tacked on a run in each of the next three innings. Leading 11-7, the Lions scored five more in the top of the seventh to put the game away.

Brock Arender paced GCA by going 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Parker Wyatt and Gunner Haskins each added three hits and Dawson Bechman went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Wyatt and Trace Phillips each drove in two runs as well for the Lions.

GCA managed six hits, drew four walks and was hit by a pitch in the opening frame. The Lions scored four runs with two outs, including a two-run single from Wyatt.

GCA will travel to Tipton-Rosemark on Wednesday for a spot in the Final Four. Other results in the first round include Columbia Academy’s 8-1 win over ECS; The King’s Academy’s 2-1 win over Trinity Christian and Knoxville Webb’s 5-4 win over Clarksville Academy.

Christ Presbyterian Academy, CAK, Tipton-Rosemark and Northpoint Christian all received first round byes. 

Grace Christian Academy 16, Silverdale Academy 7, Division II-A First Round

WP – Luke Gill. LP – Turner Jenkins.

GCA – Carter 0-4, Parker Wyatt 3-4, Gunner Haskins 3-4, Brock Arender 4-5, Jackson Sleeper 1-3, Trace Phillips 0-3, Cade Fuller 0-2, Dawson Bechman 2-4, Luke Gill 1-4, Ben Caldwell 0-1.

SA – Jenkins 3-4, Rogers 1-3, Hanks 1-2, Mullins 2-4, Reagan 2-4, Lamb 1-5, Cline 0-2, Clift 0-3, Meadows 0-4.

2B – Wyatt, Mullins, Hanks, Jenkins. HR – Rogers. RBI – Arender 3, Bechman 3, Carter, Fuller, Gill, Haskins, Phillips 2, Sleeper, Wyatt 2, Rogers 2, Mullins, Reagan 3, Hanks. Team LOB – GCA 9, SA 8.