Comeback sends Trojans to regional

SPRING HILL - Parkers Chapel nailed down a spot in the regional tournament in dramatic fashion late Tuesday night, as T.J. Bale belted a sixth-inning grand slam to lead the Trojans back from a four-run deficit to top Spring Hill 9-8.

The win gives the Trojans (15-9) the No. 2 seed for next week's 7-2A East District Tournament, which also guarantees a spot in the regional tournament.

Parkers Chapel will be hosting the district tournament starting next Thursday.

Down 8-4 after three innings, the Trojans scored a run in the fifth to set up Bale's heroics in the sixth.

Logan Selman, who turned in a brilliant performance out of the bullpen to keep the Trojans close, led off the sixth with a single.

Thomas Hardy then reached on an error to put runners at first and second.

One out later, Reece Griffin singled to

right-center to load the bases.

After Jordan Arrington struck out, the stage was set for Bale.

The sophomore crushed the first pitch over the fence in left-center for a grand slam to give the Trojans a 9-8 lead.

Selman, who came on in relief of Griffin in the third, slammed the door on the Bears.

After pitching out of a fourth-inning jam, the senior retired 11 straight batters to end the game.

"It was nice to punch our ticket on the road," said Parkers Chapel coach Mark Looney. "Spring Hill has a quality team and it's tough to win there. We kept chipping away, and we got the big hit from T.J.

"Logan absolutely closed the door. It was tremendous for us. I hope we take it and run with it."

Bale went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, adding an RBI single as part of a threerun second that tied the game before the Bears answered with three runs in the bottom of the second.

Carson Worthey went 2-for-4 with a double, a single and an RBI for the Trojans.

Trace Blaylock added a double, while Selman, Hardy, Griffin and Tyler Sanders each had singles in the win.

Parkers Chapel will be back in action today when they host Taylor.

The game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Terrance Armstard/News-Times Play at first: Parkers Chapel first baseman Reece Griffin tries to put the tag on Spring Hill's Kaleb Blair during their game earlier this month at Parkers Chapel. On Tuesday, the Trojans rallied to top the Bears 9-8 at Spring Hill, clinching a berth in the regional tournament in the process. Today, the Trojans will host Taylor. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. The Trojans will also be hosting the 7-2A East District Tournament, which gets underway next week.