CLEVELAND, Tenn. — After a grueling 3 1/2 hour, 10-inning marathon loss in the Region 3-4A title game earlier in the afternoon, Cleveland bounced back Sunday evening to out slug McMinn County for its first TSSAA Sectional berth since 2007.
Managing just two hits in a tough defeat to archrival Bradley Central 2-1, the District 6 champion Blue Raiders exploded for 15 hits and chased a major-college prospect in just 1.2 innings on their way to an 16-8 blowout to end the Tribe season.
Likewise after falling to the host Bears 2-1 in Saturday's semifinals, McMinn set up a District 6 title game rematch with Cleveland, by eliminating Ooltewah 6-1 Sunday afternoon.
The 25-ranked Raiders advance to to the Sectionals this week, having to travel to Murfreesboro to battle 10th-ranked Siegel (29-12) in a best-of-3 series for a shot at a TSSAA State Championship bid the following week.
Bursting out of the gate, Cleveland put a trio of runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first before adding a 6-spot in the second.
After McMinn (18-15) finally broke through with a three-run rally in the top of the third, the boys from Athens added a solo score in their next at bat.
The Raiders blew the game out with seven big runs in the bottom of the fifth to complete the night's scoring.
Returning from an injury, Tennessee Wesleyan signee Nolan Copeland got on base four times, going 3-for-4, plus drawing a walk, scoring twice and driving in a pair of teammates to pace the victors.
Sophomore Caden Tippens also knocked a trio of hits, including a couple of doubles and plating a trio of runs.
Senior Jack McBrayer also reached four times with a double, a single and a pair of free passes, completing the circuit three times and driving a couple teammates.
Classmate Andrew Wenger also went 2-for-3, including a triple, with two "ribbies" and scoring twice.
Virgina Tech signee Mycah Jordan and fellow senior Evan Liner both knocked a hit and "walked the line," with the former coming around to score twice, while the latter drove in two and complete the circle once.
Sophomore Collin Stuart got on base thrice with a hit and two base on balls coming around to score twice.
River Briggs drew a free pass and scored, meaning every Raider starter reached base.
On the mound Liner earned the victory, going 2.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts, four free passes and allowed two hits and three earned runs.
After senior Tyler Gardner tossed a pair of frames, with two Ks, a walk, a hit batsman, three hits and just two earned runs, Owen Goglio came on for the final 2.1 to earn the save, allowing only two hits and no runs.
While University of Cincinnati signee Ty Barnett struggled in his final Tribe start on the mound, giving up four hits and five walks for eight earned runs in just 1.2 IP, he went 2-for-4 at the dish, driving on half of the Cherokees' eight runs.
Senior Jace Falls blasted a solo homer and was "plunked" scoring twice, while Carson-Newman bound Mason Roderick laced a double and drew a free pass before scoring two times.
Cleveland State signee Hunter McDonald helped out with a hit and a couple of "freebies," while Alabama bound Brooks Berry knocked a hit and was "plunked."
Luke Lawson had a RBI-hit in the contest.
Game Summary
Region 3-4A Runner-up Game
at McKenzie Baseball Complex
McMinn County 003 140 0 — 8 7 1
Cleveland 360 070 x — 16 15 3
Barnett, Roberts (2), Frazier (4), Harbin (4) and H. McDonald; Liner, Gardner (3), Giglio (5) and Tippens.
WP: Evan Liner. LP: Ty Barnett. Save: Owen Goglio. Records: McMinn County 18-15; Cleveland 24-12.
(Contact Joe Cannon at joe.cannon@clevelandbanner.com)