Gavin Rogers, Tre Carter shots propel Trojans past Rhea in eight innings

Soddy-Daisy shortstop Justin Cooke makes a catch just shy of Rhea County runner Cameron Travis as he steals 2nd during their prep baseball game at Soddy-Daisy High School on Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.
Soddy-Daisy shortstop Justin Cooke makes a catch just shy of Rhea County runner Cameron Travis as he steals 2nd during their prep baseball game at Soddy-Daisy High School on Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.

For the second time in his Soddy-Daisy High School baseball career, senior Gavin Rogers delivered in the bottom half of the final inning Thursday. He and his Trojans teammates improved to 22-5 with an eight-inning, 8-6 victory over neighboring rival Rhea County.

In the opening game of the Trojans Classic, Rogers' dramatics somewhat overshadowed the efforts of teammate Tre Carter, who had two home runs and a double, four runs scored and two RBIs.

Rhea County pushed across a run in the top of the eighth to go up 6-5, but the Trojans weren't all that concerned. The top of their order was up.

Justin Cooke led off with his first hit of the day, and the Eagles elected to walk Carter.

Rogers, the pitcher and first baseman who already has signed with West Alabama, bashed Cameron Travis' first offering high and deep to the opposite field. The game-winning homer finished off a 4-for-5, two-run, four-RBI game.

"They were playing the odds," Rogers said of the second intentional pass to Carter. "I don't take it personally - that they were walking him to pitch to me. In situations like that I just try to stay focused and hit my pitch."

Rhea County was obviously trying to avoid any further damage by Tennessee signee Carter, but the Eagles also wanted to set up possible force plays at second and third.

"I wish (teams) would pitch to me, but I know there's somebody coming up behind me that can get the job done," Carter said.

He did his damage early, but a Kansas City Royals scout hung around long enough to see the left-handed slugger's prowess.

As the extra-inning play would indicate, the game was back and forth. Soddy-Daisy went up 4-0 but Rhea, which had chipped away each inning, tied it in the fourth. In their first comeback, the Trojans regained the lead in the fifth on Carter's second solo homer.

The Eagles tied it again in the sixth on Cameron Wilkerson's homer and then took their first lead in the seventh when Wilkerson, who had singled, came around to score on an outfield bobble. Wilkerson's 2-for-4 showing led Rhea at the plate.

"Rhea got some timely hits," Trojans coach Jared Hensley said. "We hit or walked a couple of guys to start an inning that scored. They executed, got the guy over and got a timely hit to score him."

He was delighted with the Trojans' 13-hit offensive showing but was vexed at their defensive lapses - a couple that were physical but many more that were mental.

"These guys have to learn that certain things cannot happen if they want to meet their (postseason) expectations," he said.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.

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