Unicoi County’s Aidyn Evely (20) slides home head first to score a run during the fourth inning before Sullivan East catcher T.K. Crowder can apply the tag.
Unicoi County’s Aidyn Evely (20) slides home head first to score a run during the fourth inning before Sullivan East catcher T.K. Crowder can apply the tag.
J.D. VAUGHN/SIX RIVERS MEDIA
Unicoi County’s Aidyn Evely (20) slides home head first to score a run during the fourth inning before Sullivan East catcher T.K. Crowder can apply the tag.
J.D. VAUGHN/SIX RIVERS MEDIA
Unicoi County's Kolby Jones (6) pitched a three-hit shutout Wednesday at Sullivan East.
J.D. VAUGHN/SIX RIVERS MEDIA
Sullivan East's Peyton Lingerfelt (8) takes a swing.
BLUFF CITY — It was only his second start of the season, but Unicoi County pitcher Kolby Jones had little trouble keeping his team’s “second season” alive.
Jones pitched a shutout with the Blue Devils’ 2024 campaign on the line, as Unicoi County won Wednesday’s District 1-3A play-in game 4-0 at Sullivan East.
A hand injury had sidelined him for several weeks before Jones made his return for the Blue Devils (11-16). But if there was an upside, Jones got the chance to rest his arm. Mixing his slider with his fastball, Jones kept the Patriots off-balance throughout the game. Of the 112 pitches Jones threw, 76 were strikes.
“I was a little bit nervous, but last year helped me a lot coming in some of these situations,” Jones said. “Got a little bit fatigued there toward the end, but I just kind of trusted my defense there … I threw 119 (pitches) the other day, but it was definitely not this hot.”
And certainly not as hot as Jones’ stat line — 14 strikeouts, three hits, two walks and just 26 batters faced.
The Patriots (10-19) showed life in the seventh inning, however, as Avery McCoy followed Blake Hayes’ leadoff walk with a line-drive single. But neither baserunner could advance, as Jones retired the next three batters, a strikeout and two fly balls.
QUICK RUN SUPPORT
The Blue Devils had already grabbed the lead when Jones took the mound. Two batters into the game, Chris Chavez sent a 2-2 offering over the right field wall for a solo home run.
“That set the tone,” Unicoi County coach Chad Gillis said, while recalling Monday’s practice where he asked cheerleaders to attend and be as big of a distraction as they could. “They helped us out honestly. There wasn’t a situation where I was stressed or the kids were overly stressed … tonight they seemed a little at ease.”
No doubt. The Blue Devils’ offensive statistical leaders were both freshmen. Caleb Murr and Reid Bogart both went 2-for-3, the former coming from the nine-hole.
FOUR AFTER FOUR
Tanner Berry had reached on an infield error to start the fourth inning, and Bogart’s single put two runners on. Nicky Satterly’s line drive to left allowed Berry to score for a 2-0 lead.
Three batters later, Murr ripped a two-out ground ball single up the middle to plate two more runs.
Peyton Lingerfelt and T.K. Crowder had Sullivan East’s other two hits, and Kaden Cutlip singled for Unicoi County.
McCoy started and was tagged with the loss, though only one of the runs allowed was earned. Zach Johnson fanned six batters in relief.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils travel to Tennessee High for a 6 p.m. first pitch Thursday.
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