CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Rossview Hawks traveled to Clarksville High School for the district 13-4A championship game on Monday, with the right to host the Region 7-4A tournament on the line. A pitchers’ duel ensued, interrupted by flashes of offense, and it took extra innings to decide the contest. The Wildcats’ Carter Hedrick was the man of the hour, hitting an RBI single to walk it off in the bottom of the eighth inning, winning the game for Clarksville, 3-2.
Offense was hard to come by for most of the contest. The two starting pitchers, Rossview’s Jayden Gaylor and Clarksville’s Braeden Taylor, were in control of the game, and got out of jams when needed.
In the bottom of the third inning, Clarksville’s Cade Abernathy broke the silence with an RBI single. Rossview responded with a two-run fourth inning, with an RBI each from Caden Slaughter and Houston Hebert. Kirk Weatherford then tied the ball game for CHS in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer. The two teams were knotted at two and needed extras to decide the contest.
“It was a phenomenal effort from two heavyweight teams,” said Wildcats head coach Brian Hetland. “We had some big at-bats and big hits in timely moments. When you get into the postseason, everyone has to find ways to make plays, and that’s how we were able to stay in the game tonight.”
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Offense disappeared for three more innings, with Rossview reliever Aiden Smith continuing to get himself out of jams, and Wildcat reliever Cooper Nebben absolutely dealing, allowing only one hit and striking out six in 4.2 innings pitched. In the end, Clarksville’s designated hitter Hedrick hit a line drive up the middle to score Kayden Pledger to win the district championship.
“It was a really well-played game,” said Rossview head coach Parker Holman. “Our guys did a great job on the bump, and they did everything we asked them to. When we walk out of the dugout, this game’s over. Hosting and all that’s good, but in the long run of it, you have to play your best in the region and find a way to play your best baseball when your backs against the wall.”
The Hawks and Wildcats both will advance to the region 7-4A tournament on Friday, where Clarksville High will face Henry County, and Rossview High will face Dickson County in the region semifinals. The region tournament format is simple: Win two games, you advance, lose two games, your season’s over.
“This is fun, and we’re excited we get to play it at our place,” said Hetland. “We’ve got two really hungry teams coming to Clarksville. We have to come and play and attack these guys. We just have to take it one day at a time, get ready to try to win and host a sectional, and I’m glad we’re here at home to do it.”
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All-District Team:
Before the contest between the two squads, the All-District 13-4A team was announced.
Kirkwood: Matthew Dirks. Gavin Rogers
Northeast: Jamarion Green, Cameron Skaggs, Isiah Robinson
Clarksville: Kirk Weatherford, Kayden Pledger, Cade Abernathy, Braden Taylor, Benton Barksdale
Rossview: Becket Haselhun, Johnny Cabaleiro, C.J. Lattimore, Caden Slaughter, Julian Richards
Player of the Year: Korbin Reynolds, Clarksville
Pitcher of the Year: Porter Murff, Clarksville
Offesnive Player of the Year: Jack Wyatt, Clarksville
Fresman of the Year: Shamad Parker, Northeast
Coaches of the Year: Parker Holman, Rossview/ Brian Hetland,Clarksville