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Henson’s single lifts Mustangs by Eagles
Adam Henson’s two-out single with the bases-loaded in the eighth inning gave Smoky Mountain a 3-2 Western Athletic Conference baseball victory over East Henderson on April 22 at the SM field.
Jared Jones (1-7) was the winning pitcher in relief and hit a game-tying, two-run homer in the sixth.
“It was a solid performance, probably the best we’ve played all year offensively and defensively,” Coach Jamie Extine said. “Both pitchers (Jones and Sammy Matthews) threw well, and we finally came up with a big hit with runners on base. It was a big win for us and keeps us in the hunt for the playoffs.”
The winning rally started when Jesse Henkel walked with one out. An error and a walk to Jake Buchanan loaded the bases with two out before Henson lined his single that fell in front of the center fielder.
Smoky Mountain’s Adam Henson drops the bat and heads toward first base as he watches his game-winning single go into center field in the eighth inning of last week’s 3-2 victory over East Henderson. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
Loren King had allowed just one infield hit, and his team led 2-0 entering the bottom of the sixth. He walked Andy Potter to start the game, and Jones followed with his two-run homer.
The Eagles went up 1-0 in the fourth. Tyler Thomas doubled, advanced on King’s bunt and scored on Josh Cornwell’s sacrifice fly.
They made it 2-0 in the sixth when Hunter Hill led off with a single and later scored on an error.
East had a chance to score more but left seven runners on base and hit into a double play in the first three innings.
The Eagles had runners at second and third with no outs in the first, but Matthews struck out the next three batters.
They loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but a strike out and a double play ended the threat.
Matthews pitched the first five innings, and Jones went the last two.
Thomas and Matt Dorn both had two hits for East.
The Mustang JVs won 6-3 in a game shortened to six innings due to darkness.
Will Clarke pitched a complete game. He allowed seven hits and three walks and struck out three.
Jared Couch and Brett Baucom were both two of three with a triple and double, respectively.
“We played a solid game and only had one error,” Coach Adam Gray said.
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