Calhoun withstands Phoenix rally for region rivalry win
The Calhoun Yellow Jackets utilized an ideal balance of opportunistic hitting and reliable pitching to snag an early lead and endure a late rally in a 7-5 victory over the Sonoraville Phoenix on Thursday.
After a quiet first two frames that yielded no runs for either squad, the Jacket (6-4, 1-1 in Region 6-AAA) offense was able to break through in the third. Nate Bonner sparked the team with a base hit and Carson Kemp and Mathew Williams were then nicked by pitches from Sonoraville (5-4, 1-1 in Region 6-AAA) starter Wyatt Castoe. Brett Potts put Calhoun on the board by completely squaring up a pitch off of the tip of Castoe’s glove and driving in Bonner.
The Jackets added more insurance in the inning when starting pitcher Ben King helped his own cause by hitting a sharp groundball that ended up bringing around Kemp and Williams. Two batters later, Davis Allen pushed the run total to five with a twoRBI single. Allen finished the contest 2-for-3 with two singles.
“They put a few runners on for us in the third by plucking some batters, and we also reached base on a couple of errors,” Calhoun head coach Chip Henderson said. “We have been that situation ourselves a couple times this year, but thank goodness things went our way tonight and we were able to take advantage of it and push a few runs across.”
The five runs proved to be enough offensive support for King, who contributed a steady five innings of work on the mound and maneuvered out of a few precarious situations to earn the win. He racked up nine strikeouts while permitting just two walks and four hits.
“Ben was sharp and he went out and battled,” Henderson said. “We have got to clean a few things up and play sharper, and it probably isn’t as close if we make some of those plays. He made some big pitches for us.”
Due to his pitch count being driven up by a lengthy third inning, Castoe was pulled after the inning. He picked up four strikeouts in the abbreviated start. Castoe was relieved by Collin Bridges and Tyler Lyles.
Although King largely kept Sonoraville’s bats quiet in the early going and overcoming a 5-0 is no easy task, the Phoenix produced enough offense to keep things interesting.
Chase Kirby responded to Calhoun’s big third inning with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to bring in Storm Carnes. However, the Jackets seemed to always have an answer with Bonner scratching across another run by crushing an RBI-double in the top of the fifth.
Sonoraville made its biggest push in the bottom of the fifth when Trent Walker reached base on a passed ball after striking out, Carnes was allowed on base due to a fielding error and Beau Bullard took full advantage by slicing an RBI-double into the outfield. The Phoenix chipped away a little more when Kirby was hit by a pitch and stole a base before Grant Hegwood tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly.
“They are a scrappy bunch,” Henderson said. “I thought the five runs might be enough, but in high school baseball no lead is safe.”
After Calhoun added another run on an error in the top of the sixth to increase the margin to 7-3, the Phoenix chased Calhoun reliever Ethan Crump by loading the bases and prompting Henderson to call upon Potts to shut the door on the rally. Potts quickly retired the next two batters but did give up a scorching two-RBI double to Kirby, who was once again Sonoraville’s biggest threat in the batter’s box and on the base paths by finishing the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a stolen base.
“You have to be ready when your number is called,” Henderson said. “Potts came in and painted the corners, and that’s what you are going to get out of him. So hats off to Brett, and I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Potts shook off the damage and was dialed in for the remainder of the game, stifling the Phoenix comeback and collecting three strikeouts over the final two innings to snatch a save and lock in the Calhoun victory.
“I think this has become a good, clean rivalry on both sides, and these guys are always up for these crosstown games” Henderson said. “Coach (Daniel) McArthur is one of my former players, and he is starting to really build something over there. I’m glad we were able to survive and hold on for the win.”
Calhoun was on the road at Murray County on Tuesday, and Sonoraville hosted Bremen. (For details on those games, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) The Jackets return home to host North Murray on Thursday at 5:55 p.m., and Sonoraville visits Adairsville at 5:55 p.m.