Pounders edge Hixson to clinch region berth

Central's Bret Hardy pitches a Red Bank versus Central baseball game on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.
Central's Bret Hardy pitches a Red Bank versus Central baseball game on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

Central senior pitching ace Bret Hardy was confident his teammates would bridge the final 90 feet to defeat Hixson for a third time this season and earn a berth in the Region 3-AA tournament.

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh in the District 6 winners-bracket final at Red Bank Monday, the Purple Pounders wanted nothing more than to deliver the winning run for Hardy, whose dominant pitching and timely hitting had carried them for much of the night.

When Andrew McDaniel raced home on a wild pitch for a 3-2 victory, Hardy found himself at the center of a celebration for the Pounders reaching the title game -- and with it the region tourney.

"I just love my teammates," said Hardy, who shook off some early rust with 12 strikeouts and only two hits allowed. "I rely on my teammates. I knew that we would come out and win tonight."

Hardy and the Pounders (16-13) will enjoy a day off in the tournament as the Wildcats (14-13) will face host Red Bank in the game that will determine the remaining region berth. Red Bank topped Tyner on Monday, 4-2.

"All of three of these have been tough, close games," Central coach Glen Carter said of the season series with Hixson. "It's hard to beat someone three times in a season. They battle with us every time.

"Our mental mistakes early hurt us early in the game," he added. "Hardy settled down, and once he knows we have the game, close or tied, he really zones in. He's been the workhorse all year. We threw him in this game because we knew this game would get us into the region. He did a great job."

The Wildcats' Tyler Weaver delivered a clutch, two-out RBI double in the first inning. The Wildcats made it 2-0 in the third when Logan Rigsby put the ball in play on the infield and reached on a Central error, allowing a run to score from third base.

The Pounders, who had run into three outs on the basepaths in the first three innings, came to life and broke through in the fourth with two runs.

Senior Gabe Fomby ripped a double to left center to put runners at third and second with one out. Hardy then had the big hit, lofting a bloop single into no man's land in shallow right field, scoring the run from third. The Wildcats throw missed the cutoff man and went to the backstop, allowing a second run to score to tie the game.

"We had some momentum early and we got a clutch hit," said Hixson coach Colton Green. "We added one in the third, but I told them (the Pounders) are not going to quit. We needed to get a couple more across and we just couldn't get the big hit.

"You get down to a tie ballgame like that and anything can happen," he added. "But it's not over. You win tomorrow and you put yourself back in the championship where you want to be. We are going to keep fighting."

Hixson starting pitcher Parker Tyo used his off-speed arsenal to keep the Pounders off stride for 6 1/3 innings before Central put two on against him in the seventh.

Contact Greg Thompson at sports@timesfreepress.com.

Upcoming Events