Jackets tour U.T.

The Trousdale County High School baseball team used its “spring break” last week to play three games in East Tennessee and tour the University of Tennessee baseball facilities.

At Oliver Springs on March 21, the Yellow Jackets enjoyed an 11-9, come-from-behind win over the Bobcats. The visitors trailed 6-3 entering the fifth inning, where they scored four runs before plating three more in the sixth and one in the seventh to get their third win of the year.

“We battled back against Oliver Springs,” TCHS Coach Davy Cothron said. “We just kept playing hard and things worked well. Alex Livingston came in and did an outstanding job of just throwing strikes.”

Senior Devan Walford went two for three and drove in one run. Classmate Kobyn Calhoun belted a home run, while Ayden Beal, Parker Day, Jake Malmin, Sam Cook and Livingston each added one hit.

Livingston came on in relief for Walford in the fifth inning to get the win, as he struck out one and gave up two hits and three runs.

The following day, the Jackets were able to visit the baseball facilities at the University of Tennessee.

“It was a great experience to tour UT Baseball,” Cothron said. “They got to experience behind the scenes of major college baseball.”

Later that day, the Trousdale County boys traveled to Greenback where they fell 9-5. The Jackets took a 5-3 edge into the sixth inning, where they gave up six runs.

“The bullpen let that game get away,” Cothron said. “Ayden Beal gave us a great opportunity to win that one.”

The visitors collected only four hits, while committing three errors. Beal had two hits, as Calhoun and Day each added one.

The trip ended Saturday with a visit to Morgan County and Coalfield High School. The Jackets could muster only one hit in their 17-0 loss.

Walford had the lone hit for the Purple and Gold.

The Jackets are scheduled to have a two game series with district foe Westmoreland — next week at Westmoreland on Monday and in Hartsville the next day.