CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Rival schools Rossview and Clarksville High went toe-to-toe in the District 10-AAA baseball championship Tuesday at CHS.
The Wildcats were able to claw back from two, three-run deficits and complete the eventual comeback for a 6-5 victory in walk-off fashion.
“It was incredible,” said Clarksville baseball coach Brian Hetland. “I’m so proud of our student body, the fans from Rossview and our families for providing such a great atmosphere. It was an unbelievable performance not only from our players coming back, but from the fans that were here tonight. Credit to them big time.”
Rossview baseball coach Parker Holman took his hat off to the Wildcats for their ability to rally back in both instances.
“They made some plays offensively,” Holman said. “We didn’t help ourselves, but that’s how high school baseball goes. You can always point out some things here and there that you’d like to do better, but at the end of the day, baseball has momentum and sometimes it’s hard to keep it.”
With the winning run just 90-feet away from home plate and no outs in the last inning, Clarksville senior Ethan Baggett lined a ball over the head of the Hawks left fielder to send the Wildcat fans into a frenzy.
FINAL @ClkHighBaseball 6@RHShawkbaseball 5
Ethan Baggett walks it off to give the Wildcats the District 10-AAA championship. What a game. pic.twitter.com/QiKIrjSPq0
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 12, 2021
After losing last season due to COVID, Hetland and his players are more grateful than ever for the opportunity to still be playing the sport they love.
“We got to play two games and we were 2-0 and trying to build something,” Hetland said. “We obviously didn’t get to, so to be able to come back and get this whole season in is huge.”
Key performers
Wildcats second baseman Cade Ross came up clutch in numerous pressure-packed situations, including when he delivered a relay throw right on the money in the top of the seventh inning.
“The double cut with Barksdale (Nathan) to Cade Ross was just an incredible play,” Hetland said. “That was a college-level play to throw that guy out the way we did right there.”
Hawks shortstop Joshua Sanchez-Harris laced a ball into the right-center gap before Ross, acting as the cut-off man, threw a strike to third baseman Walker Smith who then applied the tag for the out.
The play eliminated the potential go-ahead run for Rossview and more importantly, gave Clarksville all the juice it needed.
“It took the perfect relay, so tip your hat to Barkdale and Ross for making two great throws,” Holman said. “That was a big-time play defensively. Sometimes you just have to eat it.”
Ross finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Sanchez-Harris went 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and two runs scored to lead his team offensively.
“It’s real simple,” Holman said. “He’s been our guy all year. He’s the heart and soul for what our lineup does and what we do defensively. He’s wore the saddle all year long for us.”
Game summary
Clarksville starting pitcher Kyle Magrans struggled with his command early on, walking and hitting two batters in the top of the first inning which led to the Hawks taking an eventual 3-0 lead.
Top of the 1st@RHShawkbaseball pushes across two more runs on wild pitches to extend their lead to 3-0. Evick comes home to score for the second run of the contest. pic.twitter.com/2UHBRsFoUM
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 11, 2021
Sanchez-Harris got things started with a lead-off double followed by a bunt single from Keagan Evick to put runners on the corners with no outs.
The Vanderbilt commit was able to regroup and find his groove on the mound, retiring seven straight Hawks at one point in the contest.
“I thought he really came back,” Hetland said. “He fought and he competed. He started getting his slider going and threw a couple good changeups. That made a big difference in his game.”
Magrans tossed a complete game, allowing five earned runs on five hits while striking out seven.
Clarksville put their first run on the board in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Baggett.
Bottom of the 1st
Ethan Baggett puts @ClkHighBaseball on the board with this sacrifice fly. pic.twitter.com/BPszlNnijQ— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 12, 2021
The Wildcats were stellar on defense, turning two double plays in the first two innings to limit the damage in the early going.
“That’s what we are,” Hetland said. “We’re a speed team that plays defense. When we pitch and throw it over the plate, we’re a very dangerous team.”
In the bottom of the third inning, Magrans blasted a solo home run to straight-away center field to cut the Hawk lead to one run.
End of the 3rd@RHShawkbaseball 3@ClkHighBaseball 2
The Wildcats have clawed back after trailing 3-0. Here’s the celebration after the @kylemagrans blast to get CHS back within a run. pic.twitter.com/Y5iFadh7qH
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 12, 2021
Magrans helped himself out on the mound with a 3-for-3 night at the dish, adding a walk and two runs scored.
Collin Pedigo extended Rossview’s lead to 5-2 in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out, two-run single to left field.
Top of the 5th
Collin Pedigo comes up with a huge two-out base hit to give Brown and @RHShawkbaseball a 5-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/WSlPSJAxQA— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 12, 2021
The Wildcats tied the game up in the bottom of the frame once Barksdale scored after reaching on an error and Ross came up with a hit that resulted in two more runs for CHS.
End of the 5th@RHShawkbaseball 5@ClkHighBaseball 5
Cade Ross clutches up with two runners on and two down in the inning to tie the game. pic.twitter.com/JS01MTQaU4
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 12, 2021
“He absolutely smoked that ball,” Hetland said. “He also caught a fly ball that a lot of people would say was just an easy play, but with the wind blowing out, you have to range on that and fight the wind too which makes it tough.”
District 10-AAA Player of the Year Garrison Goins led off the home-half of the seventh with a two-strike base hit before Magrans doubled, setting up the walk-off shot from Baggett.
Bottom of the 7th
After a lead-off single on a 2-2 count, @kylemagrans doubles over the head of the Hawk right fielder to put the winning run just 90 feet away. Collin Pedigo will take over for Dylan Brown on the mound for @RHShawkbaseball. pic.twitter.com/53Vkrtd5uy— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 12, 2021
“This team has just found ways to win and it’s really exciting,” Hetland said. “Don’t think we didn’t feel the pressure though in this game tonight like we have in many of games this season. The bottom line is the kids didn’t waver and they didn’t panic. They stayed with what we try to do and we did it late.”
Despite being hit with the loss, Hawks starting pitcher Dylan Brown hunkered down on the mound when he needed to and gave his group a chance to win.
“Brown gutted it out and threw everything he could,” Holman said. “I thought he did a great job of keeping us in the game.”
Brown threw six innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits while striking out three batters.
Up next
Rossview (22-16) went 3-1 in the district tournament, outscoring their opponents 35-2 in their three victories. With the region tournament on the horizon, Holman is pleased with how his team is performing at this point in the season.
“We have a saying which is play for May,” Holman said. “Records in the regular season are all fine and dandy, but what you do in May is what matters. The most important game of the season and I told the kids this before the game tonight is Monday. You can win this game all you want, but if you don’t win Monday, nobody remembers.”
The Hawks will go on the road Monday, May 17 to start region-tournament play.
With the job far from finished, Hetland’s message to his team is simple; briefly celebrate being one of the final 32 teams left in the state then it is back to business.
“Tonight was big for home-field advantage, but the prize is out there Monday night,” Hetland said. “Whether you go on the road or whether you’re at home, you’re one of the final 32 teams left in the state right now and that’s a big accomplishment. I don’t care what people’s records are. There’s a private school named Goodpasture who was one of the best teams in the state and they’re at home right now. It’s a tough game and there’s no givens.”
Clarksville (30-4) will host a region tournament game Monday, May 17.
“We don’t know who we’re going to play until Wednesday or Thursday,” Hetland said. “They’ll finish up their side over there, but we do know it’s going to be a good team. When you got premiere programs like Beech, Hendersonville, Station Camp, Lebanon and all them, it’s a heck of a league. We know we’re going to get a really good opponent and we know we’re going to have to execute to be able to win the ballgame and keep doing what we’re doing.”