Hagerstown won it’s fifth TEC title in a row on May 13, 2016.
HAGERSTOWN, Ind. – Everything came down to one swing.
A three-run homer in the first inning on Friday essentially determined the outcome as Hagerstown defeated Centerville 4-2 in a contest that decided the Tri-Eastern Conference championship on Lloyd Michael Field.
“It’s just an awesome feeling,” Hagerstown Head Coach Brad Catey said of his team’s record fifth straight conference crown. “These kids work so hard all year long.”
“Our mental approach has been great all year,” Catey said. “A lot of times, we’ve had to come from behind.”
Not on Friday as Drew Pyle smacked the homer with two outs in the opening frame to give the Tigers a 3-0 advantage.
“Drew is a guy who has been hitting the ball had all year,” Catey said. “When you have a good pitcher like (Nolan) Witte you have to take advantage of any mistake and Drew did.”
The early deficit put the Bulldogs in a difficult position against the Tigers (13-3, 6-0), who have one TEC contest remaining, but all of the other teams have at least two losses.
“It happens,” Centerville Head Coach Tracey Crull said. “In a game in the TEC, to decide a title, every little thing is magnified. That’s tough to overcome.”
“Nolan pitched well,” Crull said. “He did exactly what we asked him to do. One big hit and it’s the difference in the ball game.”
The Tigers would add their final run in the third when Dylan Woolard scored on a wild pitch.
Witte worked five innings and gave up seven hits with seven strikeouts. Matt Stamper tossed a scoreless sixth inning for the Bulldogs.
For the Tigers, Trey Kelley went the distance allowing four hits and fanning 10.
“I knew he was going seven,” Catey said. “He wants the ball every game.”
Witte, who doubled in the third, knocked in Centerville’s first run with a single in the fifth.
A pair of walks and an error led the Centerville’s other tally. Devin Christian stole third and scored as the throw went into the left field.
Owen Golliher and Woolard had hits in the first inning for the Tigers with their others coming from Trent Weiss, Cody Wilson, Frank Bush and Kelley.
Stamper and Rickey Torres had hits for Centerville (7-9, 4-2).
The two teams are set to square off again on Saturday in the first round of the Wayne County Tournament hosted by Lincoln in Milton.
“It’s good for us,” Catey said. “It puts us in a state tournament-type situation. You want to see what your kids can do on a Friday night and come back Saturday morning, because that’s something we’ll have to do later on down the road.”