SODDY-DAISY – After an exciting victory over one of the top teams in the state Friday evening, Walker Valley suffered a pair of disappointing defeats to other state-ranked squads Saturday in the Trojan Classic, at the host Soddy-Daisy site.
A grand slam by junior Bryson Kent highlighted a six-run rally, giving the Herd enough margin to hold off fourth-ranked (DII-AA) McCallie 8-6 in Friday's opener.
"Great win for our men," proclaimed head wrangler Wes Anderson. "Obviously Bryson Kent with the grand slam was huge.
"(Pitcher Michael) Pledge gave us all we could ask from him and more. We extended him a little bit more than he’s thrown this year, but he responded.
"The big inning was the fifth. Walks, error, I think a hit or two and they had bases loaded no outs and a couple already in. Mike bowed his neck and got two big Time K’s," the WV coach related. "Then Cooper Henry came in and did his job ending it for us.
"We had a good day at the plate also. Kellar (Stansel) had a good day and Felipe (Castellanos) just keeps rolling."
After notching their six straight win, Walker Valley (11-15) fell to No. 20 (4A) Wilson Central 11-2 before getting nipped by the host fifth-ranked (3A) Trojans 3-1 Saturday.
The Mustangs will visit sixth-ranked (DII-A) Silverdale Baptist Academy Tuesday and Hardin Valley Thursday before hosting county rival Bradley Central Friday.
MUSTANGS 8
BLUE TORNADO 6
After McCallie (19-9) blew to a 2-0 edge with solo runs in the second and third frames, Walker Valley evened the score with a trio of singles and a Tornado error to put up a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.
Castellanos started the rally with a one-base knock before senior Carson Minnix did the same. Senior Conner Phillips laid down a sacrifice bunt but reached on a miscue.
Pledge helped his own cause with a fielder choice grounder to plate the first run, before Stansel singled home the second.
The Mustangs hit a full gallop in their next at bat circling the bases a half dozen times.
Four straight one-out walks to Hayden Harrison, Jordan Smith, Castellanos and Minnix, which forded in a run got the party started.
Pledge then ripped a single to drive in another run to set the stage for Kent's "big fly."
After and infield fly out for the second out, Kent sent the third pitch he saw over the left field fence for the "Grand Salami."
A walk, an error and three straight singles gave McCallie a pair of scores in the top of the fifth before Pledge stopped the bleeding with back-to-back strikeouts before Henry came on to get the final out. Henry went the final two frames as well to earn the save.
McCallie made a final rally in the top of the seventh taking advantage of trio of free passes, two of which came around to score before the game's final out.
Stansel went 2-for-3, with a "ribbie," while Castellanos got on base three times with a single, a walk and "taking one for the team."
Kent and Minnix each reached twice with a free pass to go with their hits, the former adding four RBI. Pledge plated a pair teammates.
WILDCATS 11
MUSTANGS 2
Wilson Central (17-7) opened the scoring with back-to-back 4-spots in the first two innings before Walker Valley was able to put up solo scores in both the third and fourth innings.
A walk to Castellanos and Minnix being hit by a pitch, they moved up a base on a wild pitch, with Phillips bringing in the first run with a sac fly.
In the fourth, Kent "walked the line" before back-to-back singles by Hayden Harrison and Carson-Newman signee Braxton Smith jammed the sacks before Castellanos "took on for the team" to bring Walker Valley's final run of the game.
The boys from Lebanon sealed the victory by scoring three times in the sixth frame.
The Herd managed just three hits in the loss and committed a pair of errors.
TROJANS 3
MUSTANGS 1
Despite getting 10 runners on base, Walker Valley managed to get just on to complete the circuit.
The Mustang score came in the third frame when the Smith brothers stroked back-to-back one-out singles before Phillips laced a two-out hit to plate Braxton.
Soddy-Daisy (19-3) tied the score in the bottom of the fourth and then added its other two scores in the sixth to pull out the close win.
The Smith siblings both got on base twice with Jordan knocking a pair of hits, while Braxton, who missed three games last week with an injury, got a single and was hit by a pitch.
In their previous meeting this season, the Trojans had to pull out a 3-2 win, at Mike Turner Field.
