Claiming both ends of a home-and-home series Walker Valley galloped past Ooltewah Wednesday evening, at Mike Turner Field.
After a 9-6 win Monday in Ooltewah, the Mustangs capped the series with a 6-2 tally.
"Good team win. We’re starting to come around," related head wrangler Wes Anderson. "Starting to find some barrels offensively and do the little things that allow us to finish.
"That’s the difference so far this year. We’ve been in every game and even lead in most of them late in game; just finish. "
On Thursday, the Herd paid a visit to No. 6 (overall) and second-ranked (DII-A) Boyd Buchanan and came back home with a 6-3 loss.
Walker Valley (4-9) will open the new District 5-4A, three-game series Monday against rival Cleveland (8-6). The games will be played at Bill Talley Stadium Monday and Thursday, plus Mike Turner Field Tuesday.
On Friday, April 6, the Mustangs will gallop into the McKenzie Baseball Complex to battle county-rival Bradley Central (4-6).
MUSTANGS 6
OWLS 4
After the Ooltewah (1-10) got a pair of baserunners in the opening at bat, they were erased by a double play and strikeout.
The Mustangs jumped on the scoreboard quickly with Carson-Newman signee Braxton Smith stroking a one-out double and Carson Minnix was "plunked" before senior Conner Phillips helped out his own cause with a two-bagger of his own to plate both his teammates in the bottom of the first.
Walker Valley tacked on two more scores in the third frame when Felipe Castellanos opened with a single before Smith "walked the line." After a balk moved both up a base, Minnix drove a sac fly to center field to drive in Minnix before Phillips reached on an error to plate Smith.
The Owls were able to cut the deficit in half without benefit of a hit in the top of the fourth.
James Trent was hit by a pitch to open the at bat but was erased on a fielder choice on a bunt by Jackson Riggins. Ethan Hughes followed with a walk and a bunt Gavin Fields loaded the sacks. Riggins scored on a Mustang error, while Hughes came home on wild pitch.
The hosts picked up solo scores in the fifth and sixth frame to seal the deal.
Smith and Minnix opened the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles, with Smith coming in after stealing second.
In the Herd's final at bat, a two-out "plunk" of Jordan Smith and a walk to Titus Torbett set the stage for Brody Ownbey's first varsity at bat, in which he delivered a RBI-single.
Braxton Smith got on base thrice and circled the bases each time to pace the Mustang seven-hit offense.
Phillips went five inning on the bump for the win, striking out five and issuing a trio of free passes. Cooper Henry came on for the two innings, notching a K and handing out a walk.
BUCS 6
MUSTANGS 3
Boyd Buchanan (10-1) jumped on top early with a trio of scores in the first frame and after Walker Valley put one on the board in the top of the third, the hosts added three more in the bottom of the inning.
The first Mustang score came after one-out back-to-back hits by Hayden Harrison and Braxton Smith put runners on the corners. The duo pulled of a successful double steals to plate Harrison.
Walker Valley added solo scores in the fourth and sixth at bats.
Pledge opened the fourth with a one-hopper over the fence for a double and later scored on one of four Buc errors.
The final run came when Pledge got on due to catcher's interference before Titus Torbett stroke a two-bagger to bring him around.
Braxton Smith got on base three times with a pair of walks to go with his single, while Torbett also drew a free pass.
