Clarksville, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville High Wildcats baseball team hosted the Henry County Patriots for the region 7- 4A semifinals on Friday night. The Patriots led early, but a five-run fifth inning powered the Wildcats to a 7-3 win and moves them to their third consecutive region championship appearance.
To kick the game off, Henry County right-handed pitcher Jack Todd was dealing on the mound as he only allowed one run, courtesy of a RBI double from Wildcats catcher Korbin Reynolds, through four innings. The Patriots scratched one run across in both the second and fourth innings to take a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth. However, the Wildcats’ offense exploded in the fifth inning as they scored 5 runs, which was capped off by third baseman Cade Abernathy’s 2-RBI double.
“Baseball is never easy when you get this far in the postseason,” said Clarksville High head coach Brian Hetland. “Their pitcher came out and really stuffed us, but I’m proud of how our guys eventually adjusted and responded.”
Henry County would scratch two more runs across, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback. Wildcats Pitcher Dawson Smith earned the win in relief, and Clarksville High earned a win against the Patriots, advancing them to the region championship game against the winner of Rossview and Dickson County tonight. Clarksville High will have a chance for its third straight region title.
“It’s special to be in this spot,” Hetland told Clarksville Now after the game. “I’m proud of our program and what we’ve been able to accomplish, but it doesn’t mean anything going into tomorrow. We have to come out and get after it and be ready to attack whoever we see.”
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