MURFREESBORO, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Academy Cougars traveled to Middle Tennessee Christian School for a state final four matchup with the Knoxville Grace Rams on Wednesday. The Cougars overpowered Knoxville Grace with some timely hitting, effective baserunning and senior right-handed pitcher Evan Leonard threw a complete game shutout to contribute to a 6-0 victory. Clarksville Academy now advances to the state semifinals against Columbia Academy on Thursday.
From pitchers’ duel to offensive showcase
Early in the game, neither offense could get much going, with both teams going scoreless through three innings. Finally, in the top of the fourth, the Cougars broke through, with pinch runner Jakeob Clark stealing second, advancing on an error to third, and stealing home on a heads-up play.
Jalon Page added on with an RBI double in that inning, and then again added to the lead with a 2-RBI double in the sixth. The game quickly went from a pitcher’s duel had become an offensive showcase for the Cougars.
“We always talk about building the lead late, once you get the lead to kind of step on somebody,” said Clarksville Academy head coach Dustin Smith. “We had some good at-bats down the stretch and made the pitcher work.”
While Knoxville Grace’s offense tried to rally, Mr. Baseball Finalist Leonard was dealing on the mound, allowing only four hits, striking out seven, while only walking one in a seven-inning complete game.
The Cougars defense backed them up all game and now turn their focus turns to a region championship rematch with Columbia Academy on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The winner of the contest will claim a spot in the state championship game, and the loser will head to the loser’s bracket.
“Evan’s confident cause of the great defense behind him,” Smith told Clarksville Now. “Leonard has been great for us all year long, and tonight he was lights out. We have to keep doing what we’re doing, we’ve got a great challenge in a great ball club tomorrow, so we got to attack and hopefully things will fall our way.”
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