CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Rossview Hawks and Clarksville Wildcats clashed on the baseball diamond for the fifth time this season Tuesday, May 10.

The stakes were higher this time – a district championship was on the line – but the result was the same as every prior meeting. Rossview came away victorious, 13-9, claiming their first district title since 2019.

Despite the teams’ records against each other this season, this game was by no means a given for the Hawks, who hosted as the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The starting pitchers for the contest were Rossview’s Hezekiah Scott and Clarksville’s Brenton Wisdom, and both looked good early.

Rossview High celebrates their district championship victory against Clarksville High on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High prepares for the upcoming game against Rossview High on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview High prepares to take on Clarksville High on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High pitcher Chipper Harris throws a pitch against Rossview on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High batter Brody Lanham swings at a pitch against Rossview on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Cannon Rice throws a pitch against Clarksville on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High fielder Will Elkins attempts to throw a Rossview baserunner out on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview baseball coach Parker Holman visits the mound on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High batter Parker Frost swings at a pitch against Rossview on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High batter Preston Brooks attempts to lay down a bunt against Rossview on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

Rossview struck first in the bottom of the 1st inning, with Dett Dettwiller driving in fellow senior Dylan Kazee. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the third inning, when Clarksville High scored three runs. Some miscues by Rossview’s defense helped the Wildcats load the bases and the guests punished these mistakes. Will Elkins batted one run in, and then a bunt by Preston Brooks became a double with 2 RBI after Rossview overthrew the ball past first base.

In the bottom of the 4th, Rossview put together a big scoring rally with 2 outs. Brady Cooper was hit by the pitch with bases loaded, bringing in one run. APSU commit Andrew Jordan then cleared the bases with a 3 RBI double. Next, Jordan stole third base, then ran to home plate when Clarksville threw the ball past third base trying to stop the steal.

Down the stretch

Another Rossview error in the top of the 5th led to a Wildcat run, but the Hawks continued their offensive momentum from the previous inning with another 5-run outing in the bottom of the inning. Collin Pedigo’s double scored two runs for the hosts. Kazee walked with bases loaded to usher in one more and junior Scotty Dean’s single brought two Hawks home. At the end of the fifth, Rossview led, 11-5.

The game continued as Rossview’s first two relief pitchers struggled to find the strike zone. Bases loaded up with Wildcats, Rossview gave up three walks and a single by Gavin Dufault. Suddenly, Clarksville was only down by two, 11-9.

Rossview coach Parker Holman went to junior Cannon Rice, a starter on the mound, whom he’d hoped to save for Wednesday night in case Clarksville High forced another game. Clarksville’s Parker Frost brought in a run off Rice, but the Hawks got a runner out at second on a fielder’s choice.

Rice then found his rhythm, escaping the inning by striking out APSU commit Brody Lanham. Cooper tacked on two more RBIs for Rossview with a double in the bottom of the 6th. In the top of the 7th and final inning, Rice slammed the door shut on the Wildcats to bring the game to an end.

Conclusion

Speaking about his team’s ability to create runs with two outs, Holman said, “Baseball is a hard game and in May, being able to hit with two outs is huge. Being able to create muddy innings – I thought we did a good job of that. Even in some innings where we got two quick outs, we found a way to at least get one guy to touch first base, and we were able to add some pressure from there. And any time you can do that, with our lineup – we have some guys who can do some damage in one swing.”

“Both [Rice and Scott] did a tremendous job,” Holman said of two of his pitchers. “Hezzy [Scott] was really good early, commanded pitches, got into favorable counts and we played some really good defense behind him.”

Having made it to the district championship game, both teams will advance to the regional semifinals on Monday, May 16. Rossview will host Dickson County while Clarksville will travel to Henry County. Both CMCSS schools have already defeated their respective opponents this year.

Rossview batter Brady Cooper swings at a pitch against Clarksville on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High pitcher Brenton Wisdom throws a pitch against Rossview on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview baserunner Dylan Kazee leads off first base against Clarksville on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview pitcher Marshall Robinson warms up on the mound against Clarksville on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview baserunner Dylan Kazee attempts to steal second base against Clarksivlle on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High catcher Conner Milligan prepares to throw the ball against Rossview on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview batter Dett Dettwiller swings at a pitch against Clarksville on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview High and Clarksville High players are honored as part of the 2022 All-District team on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview baseball coach Parker Holman speaks to his team post-game on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Rossview High holds up their district championship plaque on May 10, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

All-District 13-4A Awards

All-District 13-4A Team (Regular Season): Rossview – Dett Dettwiller, Scotty Dean, Andrew Jordan, Dylan Kazee, Cannon Rice; Northeast – Riley Blanc, Cody Hasenbein, Jaxon Mixon, Liam Smithson, Tyler Webb; Clarksville – Will Elkins, Brody Lanham, Ryan Murphy; Springfield – Devon Crenshaw, Zachary Hyde; West Creek – Xaven Fowler, Colton Lovelace

District Player of the Year: Brady Cooper, Rossview
District Pitcher of the Year: Evan Primasing, Northeast
District Coach of the Year: Charles Ratliff