Dyersburg advances with win in slugfest

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

The Trojans entered the postseason with bats a-blazin, jumping out to a big lead early before having to keep the Rebels in check then handing Obion County Central a 12-8 loss in the opening game of the District 13-3A Tournament at Dyer County High School on Wednesday night.

After getting out of a two-out, two-on situation in the top of the first, the Dyersburg bats went to work. Evan Thompson lead off with a walk then Ryan Wesson singled. Two batters later, Will Leonard singled in a run to put the Trojans on the board. After a walk to JP Noblin, Brett Horner grounded into a fielder’s choice to score a run then Jayce Ellerbrook singled in another run to give the black and gold a four-run lead. Trojans Aiden Chandler and Logan Cohen walked to load the bases for Thompson, who reached on an error which scored a pair of runs. Wesson followed with a two-run single to give Dyersburg an 8-0 lead heading into the second inning.

Obion County Central had an answer in the top of the second inning. With two outs in the inning, Evan McCloud singled then Gunner Herren drew a walk to set up an RBI double by Layne Stover. Mathew Karros doubled in two more to cut the Dyersburg lead to 8-3 after the top of the second inning.

Central cut further into the Trojan lead in the top of the third with an RBI double by McCloud to make it an 8-4 game heading into the bottom of the third.

Dyersburg got one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame. Evan Thompson singled then scored on a single by Alex Page to put the Trojans back on top 9-4 heading into the fourth inning.

Central got that run right back in the top of the fourth. Stover was hit by a pitch then Poston Essary singled him in later in the inning to trim the Dyersburg lead to 9-5.

The Trojans answered in the bottom of the fifth. Thompson and Wesson singled with one out then Page followed to drive in a run. A walk by Leonard was followed with a two-run single from Noblin to push the Dyersburg lead to 12-5 after five innings.

The Rebels rallied in the top of the sixth inning to climb closer to the Trojans. Drake Little’s double was followed by a two-batter from Braden Eason to bring home a run. Hayden Blackley singled in another run before Stover drove in another to cut the Dyersburg lead to 12-8. IT looked as though Central was going to move even closer but Blackley was called out after an appeal at home plate ruled he didn’t touch the plate when he scored to end the inning.

Dyersburg was able to tack on a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Thompson was hit by a pitch then scored on a Wesson groundout. Page followed with a single then Leonard reached on an error to score another run and put the Trojans on top 14-8 heading into the seventh inning.

Though the Rebels got singles from Stover and Karros with two out in the seventh, the Trojans got the final batter to strikeout and seal the win to advance in the winner’s bracket.

Page had four singles and an RBI to lead the way for the Trojans at the plate. Wesson added a trio of singles but three RBI in the win. Stover, Eason, McCloud and Karros each had a double and a single to lead the Rebels at the plate.

Horner picked up the win for the Trojans, allowing five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in four innings of work. Thompson allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts over the final three innings.

Karros took the loss for the Rebels, allowing six runs on three hits in 0.2 innings of work.

Dyersburg advances to the winner’s bracket quarterfinal on Thursday where the Trojans will take on top-seeded Dyer County at 7 p.m. in Newbern. Obion County Central will play an elimination game on Friday at 4:30 p.m. against the loser of Thursday’s game between South Gibson and Crockett County.

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