Brandon Ward wasn’t untouchable — allowing five hits and a first-inning run — but he was unflappable. And when he needed to be, he was unhittable, striking out 12 and leading Red Bank to a 4-1 District 6-AAA championship victory over Soddy-Daisy.

An emotional player, he reached back to his 2007 form when he was a dominant force in Chattanooga’s prep baseball world. It was sterling performance that was in contrast to last Friday’s disappointing outing when he allowed four solo home runs in an upset loss to Ooltewah in the district opener.

“I was focused tonight. I really wanted the win — especially against Soddy-Daisy,” the slender left-hander said after getting his sixth victory in eight outings.

Staff Photo by Meghan Brown-- Red Bank’s Brandon Ward slides home past Soddy-Daisy catcher Justin Baier in the District 6-AAA championship game.

He bettered his previous strikeout high by one and actually got stronger the deeper into the game he pitched. He struck out five of the last eight hitters he faced and allowed just one hit over the last three innings with a good blend of fastballs inside, looping curves and tantalizing changeups.

“I felt really good going into the seventh,” Ward said. “The difference between tonight and Friday was that I had all my stuff. I was real tight last Friday. I left too many pitches up.”

He left a couple of pitches up in the fourth inning Tuesday, surrendering a double to the fence to Ryan Mullins and a single to left by Zach Stephens, but the fiery and demonstrative youngster was up to the task.

“I knew I had big sticks coming up, but I also felt I settled in after that,” he said.

He settled in by ringing up the next three Trojans to strand Mullins and Stephens.

“That was huge,” Red Bank coach Bumper Reese said. “Our coaching staff felt when he struck out the side that he got his second wind. He was really focused.”

Soddy-Daisy scored first, getting what would be the Trojans’ only run. Dakoda Hill singled but was forced out at second when Ward fielded a Jordan Gault sacrifice attempt and got the lead runner. Gault stole second and scored on the first of two singles from Stephens. In a key play to end the inning, Stephens was called out for interfering with Red Bank second baseman Kacy Bembry’s fielding attempt on Justin Baier’s grounder.

The Lions took the lead for good in the fourth. The speedy Ward singled to left to open their half of the inning and scored from first on Cullen Clabo’s double. Clabo followed him home on an errant throw.

The Lions’ final run came on cleanup hitter Corey Emery’s no-doubt, fifth-inning home run to right. Their defense complemented Ward’s pitching effort, turning in an errorless performance to seal their third straight district championship.

Soddy-Daisy’s Hill allowed four hits in six innings pitched.

Both teams advance to the Region 3 tournament. Red Bank will be at home to host either McMinn County or Bradley Central, and Soddy-Daisy will travel to the other. Bradley and McMinn are playing at 5 p.m. today for the District 5-AAA championship.