EVENSVILLE, Tenn. — With a sweep of District 5-4A cellar dweller Rhea County, and some help from county rival Walker Valley, Cleveland leaped frogged into the top spot in the regular season league race.
After 5-4 win Monday, the Blue Raiders tacked on a 7-3 decision Wednesday before, exploding for a 14-5 blowout Friday in Evensville.
Now 5-1 in the district race, Cleveland (13-9) holds a one-game lead on the Cherokees (12-9, 4-2) and two over the Mustangs (7-13, 3-3).
After climbing Signal Mountain Saturday afternoon, Coach Brent Tucker's first Raider crew will lock horns with McMinn County next week for in the final league three-game sereis of the regular season.
Walker Valley will look to stay in the hunt, facing Rhea County (3-14, 0-6).
Cleveland didn't waste any time in the Friday rain makeup, circling the bases four times before the hosts came to bat.
Virginia Tech signee Mycah Jordan got the party started with a solo shot over the center field wall on the game's second pitch.
A single by Nolan Copeland and RBI-double by Cutter Womack kept things rolling as Andrew Wegner helped out his own cause with a run-scoring single, plus Cadden Tippens capped the rally with a RBI-sac fly.
The Raiders tacked on another run in the third when Collin Stuart singled, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and then swiped home.
Rhea County finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as Dawson Mikel was hit by a pitch and Rex Pendergrass doubled him home.
The visitors pushed the lead to 8-1 with a 3-spot in the top of the fourth with Stuart blasting a two-out shot to also also bring in Jack McBrayer and Wenger.
The Eagles cut into the deficit in the bottom of the frame when six of the first seven batters reached base, with four of them completing the circuit.
Cason Kinney doubled to open the run, before Drew Massengill singled.
A Raider error allowed the first score, before Riley plated a teammate, and the final hometown score came on a wild pitch.
Cleveland put the nail in the coffin with a six-run fifth, the first two of which came on bases-loaded free passes. Tippens helped out with a RBI single, before Stuart "walked the line" to force in another.
The fourth Rhea error of the night allowed the final two runs to come in.
A run shy of ending the game in the fifth, the Raiders made it a 10-run difference in the top of the sixth on a sac fly by Tippens to score Womack, who opened the frame with a single.
Pounding out a dozen Raider hits, Womack led the way going 3-for-4, including a double, a RBI and three runs scored, plus he was hit by a pitch.
Stuart went 2-for-4, including his blast, to drive in four runs, plus he walked once, scored twice and swiped a couple of bases.
McBrayer and Wenger both stroked a hit, drew a walk and were "plunked," with the former scoring twice and driving home a teammate, while the latter plated a pair of runs and circled the bases once.
Jordan had a pair of hits, one that left the park, and scored twice.
Wenger picked up the pitching win, only giving up a hit in three innings, before Owen Giglio came on to toss the final 2.2 of shutout ball, giving up just two hits.
Rhea had seven hits, including two each from Pendergrass, Kinney and Massengill.
Game Summary
District 5-4A
Friday, April 12
at Evensville
Cleveland 401 361 — 15 12 1
Rhea County 001 400 — 5 7 4
Wenger, Stuart (4), Goglio (4) and Tippens; Butler, Riley (5), No. 16 (5) and Houston.
WP: Wenger. LP: Butler.
Records: Cleveland 13-9, 5-1 District 5-4A; Rhea County 3-14, 0-6 District 5-4A.