Three Oaks holds off Lake County rally to punch ticket to title game

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Three Oaks (19-0) looked to be cruising to a big win on Tuesday in the semifinals of the West Tennessee Athletic Conference Tournament on the Choctaws homefield before a six-run fourth inning by the Falcons made things interesting before TOMS claimed the 10-6 win to advance to Wednesday’s championship game.

Three Oaks got its offense going early as Landon Todd singled then Maddox Davis followed with an RBI single to put the Choctaws on the board. After Cullen Messer drew a walk, Braxton Anderson singled in another run to double the Three Oaks lead. Grayson Daniels followed with a ground up but plated a run in the process before Crawford Childress did the same to put the Choctaws on top 4-0 after one inning.

After a 1-2-3 top of the second inning, Three Oaks looked to add to its lead. Talon Harrell led off the frame with a walk then scored on a Nate Vick double. Todd followed with an RBI single then scored on a wild pitch himself. Messer then singled in a run to put the Choctaws on top 8-0 after two frames.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Choctaws added another run when Vick singled then scored on a Todd ground out to extend the Three Oaks lead to 9-0 after three innings.

Lake County’s offense finally broke through in the top of the fourth. A pair of walks and a Harrison Metoyer single loaded the bases before Levi Whitson drew a bases-loaded walk to put his team on the board. Wallace also drew a walk to plate a run before Burg doubled in two more to cut the Three Oaks lead to five. Two more walks resulted in another Falcon run as Camden Lanier’s free pass pushed across a run. J.C. Butler then grounded out to plate another run. After electing to put Metoyer on with an intentional walk, a strikeout ended the frame with Three Oaks’ lead trimmed to 9-6.

With the time limit running down, Three Oaks was able to add a run on a Corbyn Kolwyck single to push the Choctaw lead to four before time ran out to seal the win for the orange and white.

Vick led the way for the Choctaws at the plate with a single and a double while Todd added a pair of singles in the win.

Burg’s double in the sixth was the only extra-base hit of the Falcons three hits on the day.

Todd picked up the win on the mound for the Choctaws, allowing five runs on two hits with six strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.

Three Oaks will face Northview in the WTAC Championship Game on Wednesday at 5 p.m.  Northview defeated Halls in the second game of the night, 10-0.

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