Struggling DH Dawson Gentry's homer sparks Gibbs baseball to state title win over Pigeon Forge

MURFREESBORO — Gibbs baseball coach Geff Davis had every opportunity to sit  sophomore designated hitter Dawson Gentry.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Gentry struggled hitting the ball and only started playing regularly in the last half of the season. He was hitless in seven at-bats at the state tournament before Friday's Class AA championship game.

But Gentry's three-run home run in the first inning sparked a 14-8 win over Pigeon Forge, giving Gibbs to its first baseball state title in 11 years.

STATE BASEBALL:TSSAA baseball high school state tournament results

STATE SOCCER:TSSAA high school state tournament results

"It's been one long season for me," Gentry said. "I've struggled with everything. I've struggled with hitting and felt for a while whether or not I still loved the game. I wondered if it was all worth it or what I was going through all of this for."

Gibbs needed Gentry's smash that cleared the right field fence for his second homer of the season. Pigeon Forge had put up three runs to start the game and looked poised to hand its District 3 rival a third loss in five meetings this season.

Instead, Gentry's blast gave his team a 5-3 advantage in a see-saw game that saw the Eagles take the lead for good in the fifth. Braden Graves added two hits and two RBIs.

"We kept sticking with Dawson," Davis said. "He's a big kid. He's probably the strongest player at state this year. And he got a hold of one and sent it out. Man, did we need that. He came through in a huge way."

GIbbs' five-run fifth inning put Pigeon Forge (32-6)  away as the Eagles (33-7) won their seventh straight game and second state championship.

"It's been what feels like forever since we last won a state title," Davis said. "And I'm tired of talking about what might have been last year (with COVID-19). These seniors wanted it and we felt we had a good chance at it. The only problem is it's not easy advancing through a state tournament."

Brayden Taylor closed the door in relief, going three innings and twice striking out Pigeon Forge batters when the Tigers threatened to close the gap. The Tigers loaded the bases in the fifth and had runners on second and third in the sixth but stranded them.

"I knew I could possibly pitch," Taylor said. "But I figured our starter (Reilly Byers) would go the distance because he's been going seven innings almost every start this year. The great thing about our team is everyone is ready to do their part. I just tried to do mine when I was called."

The Tigers' four through six hitters had six RBIs but starter Justin McClellan lasted only one inning and reliever Logan Johnson lasted one batter as Pigeon Forge committed six errors. It was the Tigers' second straight state tournament appearance.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.