SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - After waiting through a three-plus hour rain delay, South Pittsburg's offense waited a while longer before finally waking up. In a game that ended well past midnight, the Pirates rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win over Eagleville and advance to next week's Class A state tournament.
"Our kids wanted it more," said Pirates coach Brian Paris. "The past three seasons we lost the do-or-die game when we needed it, but this group of six seniors has played for each other all year and they wouldn't give up."
Senior E.J. Cagle drilled a two-run home run to tie the game and after classmate Cade Kennemore reached on an error, fellow senior Travis Rowell stroked a double down the first-base line to bring the speedy Kennemore in to score standing up.
Cagle came on in relief of his younger brother Ryan, who pitched five innings and struck out seven. E.J. Cagle (8-1) gave up just one hit and struck out four in his two innings of work before hitting only the second homer of his career.
"I was just looking for a pitch to hit hard and hopefully drive somewhere for a base hit," said Cagle, who went 2-for-3 at the plate. "When I saw that fastball coming down the middle, I said 'Oh, that's mine!' It felt great as soon as I hit it and I was just happy to do something to help pick my team up."
The Pirates (23-10) are back in the state tournament for the first time in six years.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.