Tigers are Runner-Up, Advance to Sectional

McKENZIE (May 9) — The Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School Tigers are the Region 6A Baseball runner-up and advance to the Sectional round with a pair of wins Saturday afternoon. First, they topped Collinwood, 9-5, then avenged a Friday afternoon loss against Wayne County with an 15-4 victory.

The Tigers travel to face Richland Wednesday in a best-of-three Sectional series. The winner advances to the state tournament.

Central Tigers 9, Collinwood Trojans 5

Central got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the second. Collinwood answered with one in the top of the third, but the Tigers pulled away with four in the home half, then added three in the sixth. The Trojans rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh.

Tiger Brayden Maness was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases. Brody Huff was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Dalton Howard was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Parker Boyd was 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI. Parker Finley was 1-for-2 with a walk. Tanner Walters was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Gage Weatherly and Drake Hollingsworth were both 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.

Trojan Gentry Hart was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Boston Moser was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Ayden Jones was 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Tate Linville was 1-for-4 with a double. Shyston Rideout was 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored.

Junah Smith earned the complete-game win for Central, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out four.

Gentry Hart took the loss for Collinwood, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits while walking none and striking out three in three innings. Luke Holt pitched the final three frames, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out one.

Tigers 15, Wayne County Wildcats 4

Wayne County struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, but Central took the lead with three in the top of the second, then added five in the third, one in the fourth and one in the top of the sixth. The Wildcats scored a run in the home half. The Tigers added five more in the top of the seventh, and Wayne County tacked on a run in the bottom half.

Tiger Brody Huff was 4-for-5 with a double, five RBIs, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Parker Boyd was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, four RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Gage Weatherly was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Drake Hollingsworth was 1-for-2 with four runs scored. Dalton Howard was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Parker Finley was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. Braxton Howard was 1-for-5 with a run scored.

Wildcat Brady Stooksberry was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Jacan Floyd was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Daniel Pike was 2-for-4. Nate Bevis was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Weston Todd was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Kace Bryant was 1-for-4. Graeme Polk was 0-for-1 with three walks and a run scored.

Gage Weatherly earned the win for Central, allowing three earned runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out five in six innings. Brayden Maness pitched the final frame, allowing one earned run on one hit with no walks and one strikeout.

Kace Bryant took the loss for Wayne County, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out two in two and a third innings. Weston Todd pitched the final four and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out two.