CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Reaching the 20-win mark for the first time since 2005, Cleveland rolled past Rhea County in a "mercy rule" victory to open the District 5-4A Tournament, Thursday at Bill Talley Stadium.
The top-seeded Blue Raiders (20-11) rolled past the fourth-seed Golden Eagles (4-23) for the fourth time this season with an 11-1 tally in five innings.
The win puts Coach Brent Tucker's "Blue Crew" up 1-0 in the best-of-3 semifinal series, which will switched to Evensville Friday for Game 2.
If a third game is needed it will be Saturday afternoon at 2, back in Cleveland.
No. 3-seed McMinn County out dueled second-seed Walker Valley in a 1-0 pitchers duel Thursday in Charleston, with Game 2 set for Athens Friday.
The District 5-4A championship game is slated for Monday, at 6 p.m., unless Mother Nature washes out either Friday or Saturday's action.
After a pair of scoreless frames, Cleveland opened the scoring Thursday with a 3-spot in the third frame.
Evan Liner opened the at bat by "taking one for the team" before Collin Stuart followed with a single. Virginia Tech signee Mycah Jordan, the District Player of the Year, stepped into the box and sent a shot over the left field fence.
After Rhea picked up a solo run in the top of the fourth when K Houston singled, stole second, moved to third on a pass ball and came in to score.
The Raiders answered with a the first of two four-run rallies in the bottom of the frame.
Walks to River Briggs and Stuart and single by Caden Tippens jammed the sacks with just one out.
Jordan delivered again, this time with a RBI single that was misplayed in the outfield, allowing two more runs to come in, plus he ended up on third base.
Nolan Copeland followed with another single to plate Jordan.
Cleveland capped the early exit with four more in the bottom of the fourth.
After an out, Briggs "walked the line" before Tippens delivered another hit. Jonas Ernest then earned a free pass to load the bases. Stuart proceeded to rip a two-run double.
After a walk to Jordan to reload the sacks, Copeland drew a RBI-base on balls before a sac fly by Cutter Womack ended the game.
Jordan, Tippens, Copeland and Stuart knocked a pair of hits each, with Jordan driving in four and Copeland a pair. Copeland and Briggs drew a couple of free passes, while Jordan and Stuart got one apiece.
Raider ace Christian Lee picked up the victory, going 4.1 innings, striking out eight and walking just one and scattering three hits.
Game Summary
District 5-4A
Tournament
Semifinal
best-of-3
Thursday, May 2
at Bill Talley Stadium
Rhea County 000 10 — 1 3 2
Cleveland 034 4x — 11 8 0
Love, Latshaw (4), No. 99 (5) and Houston; Lee, Gardner (5) and Tippens.
WP: Christian Lee. LP: Levi Love.
Records: Rhea County 4:23; Cleveland 20-11.
(Email Joe Cannon at joe.cannon@clevelandbanner.com)