CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - The stat sheet will show Gordon Lee won Tuesday's Region 7-AA baseball game against Model 2-1 on a bases-loaded balk call in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Technically, that's true, but the "balk-off" seed was planted an inning earlier by the Trojans' coaching staff when Model pitcher Trey Leonard appeared to start and then stop his motion with two runners on base.
In the seventh, after walking the bases loaded, Leonard had a 1-2 count on Dylan Minghini when the second base umpire ended the game with the balk call.
"The kid balked a couple of times before and we said something to the umpires," Gordon Lee coach Mike Dunfee said. "He kind of paused and then went back to it, and they caught it in the seventh. That took a lot of guts to call it. I'm sure the umpire caught a lot of heck when he walked out."
The run made a winner of pitcher Ethan Clark, who improved to 6-0 with a three-hit, 12-strikeout masterpiece. The Blue Devils' run came on an infield error in the third inning.
"Ethan threw a heck of a game," Dunfee said. "He struggled a bit in the middle innings with his fastball, but then he found it and finished strong. Once he settles down and relaxes, he does a great job. He's just getting better every outing, and that's a great sign for us with the playoffs near."
The win moves the Trojans (18-5, 10-0) within one win of clinching the region championship with two league games remaining. Model is 6-3 in the region and still in the thick of the playoff hunt.
The Trojans won despite managing just two hits - both by Minghini - off Model starter Trevor Proctor and Leonard, though the two did walk eight and hit a batter. The lack of production has Dunfee concerned.
"We left seven runners on base, so we have to start swinging it," he said. "We have to get that confidence back with the sticks. All year our pitching and defense has been solid, but we have to start producing at the plate."
Clark let only three runners reach second base in the game's final five innings. He stranded a runner at third in the fourth inning and left two Model runners on in the sixth by striking out Nathan Bogardus.
"My slider and my fastball were working, and I just concentrated on filling the strike zone up," Clark said. "I felt like I could stretch it out if we had gone extra innings, but I'm glad we were able to end it in seven."
The game included the first start in the field for Chaney Rogers, who is recovering from a broken foot. His sacrifice fly in the third inning tied the game at 1 and the first baseman walked the other three plate appearances, including with two outs in the seventh to load the bases.
"It was nice to get Chaney his first start in the field," Dunfee said of the University of Georgia commitment, who might also pitch some in the postseason. "He goes for more therapy and then we'll see about pitching. Having him to at least play first base for us is great, and if he's able to take the mound that would be a bonus."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.