Getting some strong pitching performances and timely hits, Cleveland notched back-to-back victories at Bill Talley Stadium.
Both teams knocked out four hits, but the Blue Raiders did much more with its than Ooltewah for a 4-1 win.
Coach Brent Tucker's "Blue Crew" shutout Red Bank 2-0 Wednesday
Cleveland (8-6) turned around to host crosstown rival Bradley Central after presstime Friday evening and open District 5-4A play with a new format next week, battling rival Walker Valley at Bill Talley Stadium Monday and Thursday, plus at Mike Turner Field Tuesday.
On Friday, April 6, Cleveland will journey to Heritage (Ga.) to take on the Generals.
RAIDERS 4
OWLS 1
After a scoreless opening inning, Ooltewah (1-11) put the first score on the board when sophomore Caleb Henson drew a walk to start the second, stole second, moved to third on a single by Cade Richardson.
The Owl baserunners then pulled off a double steal, which brought Henson sliding across the plate, beating the return throw.
After being held scoreless in their first three at bats, the Raiders evened the score in the bottom of the fourth.
Senior Nolan Copeland opened the at bat by "walking the line," swiped second and came around to score on a single by classmate Andrew Wenger.
After a scoreless fifth, the hosts put up a 3-spot in the sixth.
Virginia Tech signee Mycah Jordan and Copeland started the rally with back-to-back doubles to plate the first score.
After a walk to senior Jack McBrayer and Copeland stealing third, Wenger deliver his second RBI hit of the night.
A fielder's choice then notched the first out, before Wegner swipes third and sophomore Collin Stuart goes to second and 10th-grader Caden Tippens lifted a sac fly to bring in the final run.
Brock Smallen went 2-for-3 for the Owls, while Drew Wood had the other hit for the visitors.
While sophomore Owen Goglio tossed the first five frames for Cleveland, striking out 10 and walking just two, he gave way to junior Tyler Gardner, who notched 4 Ks in a pair of no-hit innings to earn the pitching victory.
Ooltewah starter James Trent also went five frames, with seven strikeouts and a trio of free passes in taking the loss before Smallen tossed the final three outs.
RAIDERS 2
LIONS 0
Wenger "plunked" two of the first three Red Bank batters and walked the other before Tippens threw out a would-be base stealer for the first out, followed by a fly ball to left field and a strike out kept the visitors from scoring.
The Raiders used a trio of hits and a free pass to plate a score in the bottom of the first. After an opening strikeout, Jayden Bates laced a solid single to left and then stole second base.
Copeland "walked the line" before McBrayer beat out an infield single to load the sacks.
Wenger helped his own cause by lacing a single to left to bring in Bates.
Red Bank (6-4) got a pair of baserunners on in the second with a single and a walk, but a pair of Ks got Wenger out of the jam.
Coach Tucker flip-flopped third baseman Stuart and Wenger to start the third and the sophomore responded with eight straight outs, including a half dozen Ks, which included striking out the side in the fourth frame.
The Raiders picked up their final run in the bottom of the third when a leadoff walk to Copeland and a single by McBrayer set the table for a sac bunt by Stuart to plate the score.
Stuart got into a little jam in the top of the sixth by hitting the first batter, which was followed by a single. After a ground out, a walk loaded the bases, but the righty bowed his back and struck out the next two Lions.
Picking up the pitching victory with five innings of relief, Stuart recorded 11 strikeouts and had a trio of walks, while Wenger K'd three. Both issued four free passes, but just one hit apiece.
Womack led the Raider offense, going 3-for-4, while McBrayer added a couple of hits.
