MURFREESBORO, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Academy Cougars, after a quick bounce back from their morning game, faced the Knoxville Grace Rams in an elimination game, with the right to go to the state championship on the line. The Cougars’ timely hitting and a great outing from left-handed pitcher Colt Wallace powered Clarksville Academy to a 4-2 win, advancing them to their first state championship game in program history.
The Cougars struck first, with left fielder Floyd Dodwell walking in a run on a bases-loaded walk. It wasn’t until the fourth inning until Academy struck again, with Jalon Page scoring a 2-RBI double.
On the defensive side of things, left-handed pitcher Colt Wallace allowed only six hits and one earned run in seven complete innings. To end the game, he struck out the last batter in a bases loaded situation, sending the Cougars to the title game.
“It feels amazing to be in this position,” said Wallace. “You work every day for this moment, we’ve been going every day, and now we get to live out our dream. We just have to keep the same mindset and do what we do.”
The Cougars will have a rematch with Columbia Academy at 10 a.m. Friday at Middle Tennessee State University. Clarksville Academy will have to defeat the Bulldogs twice, but it’s something that Smith is confident his squad can do.
“It’s something that you dream about, playing in a state title game,” said Smith. We’re excited to go out there and compete. We’re one of two teams left, and that’s special. Let’s worry about the first one and getting a win there, and we will see what happens.”
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