Elizabethton opened the Region 1-3A tournament with a quick start.
The Cyclones rolled to an 11-4 lead over Grainger in the Region 1-3A Semifinals on Friday night at Joe O’Brien Field in Elizabethton.
With the win, the Cyclones advanced to Saturday’s Region 1-3A Championship game against Greeneville at noon, while Grainger moved into the 3p elimination game against Unicoi County. The loser of the championship game will face the winner of the elimination game with a sectional berth on the line.
After the EHS defense opened the game with a 1-2-3 inning, the Cyclones jumped out to an early lead as Brayden Buckles opened the inning with a double while Bryson Rowland hit a single to get things going. Buckles crossed home plate after Rhett Slagle put the ball in play, and Stephen Meadows plated Rowland to give EHS a 2-0 lead after an inning of play.
The Cyclone defense limited the Griz in the top of the second and then the offense started rolling.
Elizabethton scored six runs in the bottom of the second – including a two-run home run by Buckles – to give the Cyclones an 8-0 lead.
Grainger was able to get a run back in the top of the third, but the Cyclones extended the lead as Logan Campbell and Rowland crossed home plate to give EHS a 10-1 lead.
The teams traded runs in the fifth, but Elizabethton was able to secure the win.
Rowland went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Meadows and Buckles had two hits and two RBI apiece. Slagle added two RBI and a hit.
Marshal Holtsclaw and JD Hooks had a hit and an RBI apiece.
On the mound, Slagle struck out eight batters and allowed just two earned runs on three hits in five innings of work. Carson Atkinson allowed two earned runs on four hits in two innings of relief work.
Nolan Wallace and Josh Walker had two hits apiece to lead Grainger.
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