HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
The South Pittsburg Pirates and Whitwell Tigers faced off last week in a pivotal district series. The Tigers claimed game one with a 13-4 victory, while the Pirates responded in game two, dominating 12-3.
In game one, Brody Harvey got the start for Whitwell, pitching just over an inning and allowing one run. The Tigers’ starter faced six batters and struck out three. The Pirates drew first blood when Kayden Kilgore stole home. Whitwell quickly responded, scoring on an error and a passed ball to take the lead, and added another run in the second inning.
The game remained tight until the fifth inning. Tristin Nunley was hit by a pitch, bringing in a run. With no outs, Kilgore lined into a double play. With the bases loaded, Alex Phillips skied a pop fly that resulted in an error, giving South Pittsburg a one-run lead.
The Tigers answered in the bottom of the inning. Colin Beason led off with a walk, Cayden Green bunted to reach base, and Landon Smith walked to load the bases. Gabe Ross delivered with a single to left field, and Smith scored on a passed ball. Harvey singled to right, driving in Ross. In the next inning, Brayden Riley reached on a hit by pitch. Beason followed with a double to the left-center gap, and Green bunted him home. Ross lined out, driving in another run, and Xander Morgan singled to right, adding an RBI.
Bennett Goforth came in relief to shut the Pirates down and earned the win.
Game two was the complete opposite of game one. Caden Jones singled for the Pirates in the first inning, followed by a walk from Phillips. Kaden Baker flew out to left, but Tanner Blevins singled to center, scoring the first run. Nunley singled into the vacated shortstop area, giving South Pittsburg a two-run lead. Logan Sisk singled to left, adding another run.
In the third inning, Smith singled up the middle to drive in Beason. Two innings later, Green hit an infield single to knock in Goforth, cutting the deficit to one. South Pittsburg answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
The Pirates then erupted for eight runs in the sixth inning. Kilgore singled to drive in a run, Baker followed with a single, and Blevins doubled to left field, giving South Pittsburg a five-run lead. Sisk singled to left, scoring two more on an error, and Gage Mottern capped the scoring with a double down the line.
Phillips was dominant on the mound in game two, striking out eight batters while allowing three runs on five hits.
Whitwell returns to action on Thursday, April 2, at Lookout Valley at 7 p.m. South Pittsburg hosts a home game on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.