It wasn't the eclipse that caused batters problems on the north end of the county Monday evening, but rather of pair of college-bound aces locked horns in a classic pitcher's duel, that was decided by an unearned run in an extra inning.
McMinn County's Ty Barnett and Walker Valley's Braxton Smith both went the distance in the eight-inning affair, firing 114 and 111 pitches respectively.
It wasn't until a two-out Mustang error allowed a run to score that the 1-0 outcome was settled.
"Just another tough loss. Braxton came out and pitched his heart out," commented top Herd wrangler Wes Anderson. "I can’t ask for anything more than what he gave us tonight.
"We are just missing that timely hit. It’s like a levee at this point; we keep crashing up against it over and over, just need one big moment to send us through."
Cincinnati bound Barnett fired a two-hit shutout, striking out nine and issuing a trio of free passes, while Smith, who is headed to Carson-Newman, countered with five Ks, only one walk and scattered a half dozen hits.
The victory improves the Cherokees to 12-8 overall and a district-leading 4-0 in league play, while the Mustangs slip to 5-13 and 1-3 in conference action, with their sixth one-run loss of the campaign.
Mother Nature pushed Tuesday's rematch back to Wednesday (possibly at Tennessee Wesleyan University) and was putting a cloud of doubt on that plan. The teams will continue their key District 5-4A series back at Mike Turner Field Thursday.
CHEROKEES 1
MUSTANGS 0
Barnett was in control from the beginning Monday, allowing just two-out infield hit by WV senior Carson Minnix in the opening inning in the Mustangs first, plus a one-out single by Conner Phillips in the sixth.
Setting the hosts down in order four times, the Tribe lefty had to only work out of two baserunner jams twice on the night. In the third, Braxton Smith worked his counterpart for a two-out walk, before teammate Felipe Castellanos was "plunk."
Barnett slammed the door shut with a strikeout.
In the sixth, a one-out McMinn miscue allowed Minnix to reach before Phillips followed with a hot shot to the Cherokee third baseman for an infield hit. Barnett induced comebacker from the next batter that he turned into a threat ending double play.
Although Smith allowed at least one baserunner in each of the first five Tribe at bats, his defense came up with some big plays to have his back.
After one-out walk to fellow Carson-Newman signee Mason Roderick in the opening at bat, Alabama bound Brooks Berry singled, but the Mustang lefty got a pair of fly balls to get out of the inning unscathed.
A two-out single by Jayce Falls in the second left him stranded when the following batter ground out to Mustang first baseman Titus Torbett.
In the third, Roderick got on base by the first of three WV errors, and moved to second on a single by Berry. Roderick was erased trying to steal third on a strong throw by catcher Jordan Smith and catch and tag by Satchel Cole.
The following batter ripped a hard shot into left-center that Mustang outfield Hayden Harrison made a spectacular diving grab of just before it hit the ground for the third out.
A leadoff single by Barnett in the fourth didn't amount to anything as Braxton Smith induced a fly ball and then notched back-to-back strikeouts.
The 'Stang "D" continued to shine in the fifth Tribe at bat with left fielder Kellar Stansell making a diving, rolling catch of a sinking liner, before third baseman Cole stabbed a hard-hit line drive to his left, and Harrison made another "Sports Center" highlight catch on another scorcher to short left-center and held onto the ball despite colliding with Stansell.
A second straight 1-2-3 inning for the Tribe followed in the sixth, but they were able to get a runner on due to a error in the seventh, however a couple of ground balls left him stranded.
McMinn's Luke Lawson opened the top of the eighth with a single, but after being bunted up to second, Harrison gunned him down trying to score on Berry's third hit of the night.
Berry was able to score the game's only run a moment later on a two-base error that left a runner on second base, as well. The elder Smith brother regrouped and struck out Barnett to leave the "duck on the pond."
The Tribe ace closed out the win with a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, including a K to put close it out.
