Knoxville Christian shuts out potent Eagles
The Signal Mountain baseball team’s wicked-sounding scoring average of 12 runs per game went screaming out the window, and the Eagles’ season-opening two-game win streak went sailing right after it.
They had scored 12 runs in each of their first two games — including an 11-run inning Thursday in a win at East Hamilton — but could generate little offense against Knoxville Christian and left-handed pitcher Cole Knott.
They managed only five hits in a 5-0 loss to the Knights in Friday’s first game of the Wildcat Classic at Hixson.
Knott pitched five innings, allowing just four hits and giving up three walks.
The Eagles had at least one runner aboard in each of the first six innings and loaded the bases in the sixth but couldn’t get the key hit to bring home a run — or more. They stranded nine runners and their 2-3-4 hitters were a combined 1-for-11.
“We threw up a goose egg,” Eagles coach Josh Gandy said. “We had opportunities and just didn’t take advantage.”
Jake Carmichael, who wound up 2-for-4, opened the game with a double to right-center, but the Eagles followed with an infield pop-up, a fly ball to short center field and a groundout to shortstop. Seth Wicker opened the top of the second with a single to right, and Garland Wood walked with one out. A strikeout and another groundout to short ended that rally.
The Eagles got their leadoff batter on base five of the team’s seven at-bats and made a serious threat in the sixth, when a run would’ve tied the game at 1. However, a runner got thrown out at third base for the second out and a fly to right ended the inning.
“One time we had a runner in scoring position and we got two pop- ups and a groundout. Then we had a baserunning mistake that cost us one run,” Gandy said. “When you hit the ball, you have to take advantage of that, especially when you have baserunners out there.”
Gandy could find little fault with his starting pitcher, left- hander Lee Nagle, who gave up just one run in his three innings of work. His mistake of walking the Knights’ No. 7 hitter in the third came back to haunt him because he wound up scoring on a Landon Turner sacrifice, a Trae Hall single and Sam Held’s fielder’s choice.
“Our pitching was OK,” Gandy said. “He’s a senior and does a good job. He understands his game.”
The Knights broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together five hits, including a double by Jerry Hammons, to go up 5-0.
“Knox Christian plays good fundamental baseball,” Gandy said. “They got their bunts down and made the plays in the field, and their pitcher was good. Multiple times he was down 2- 0 and threw back-to-back changeups.”
The tournament is scheduled to continue today at Hixson, Central, Red Bank and East Hamilton before Sunday’s championship final, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Hixson.