Those Tigers fell just short of a trip to Colorado, losing 5-4 to Young Harris in the final game of their best-of-three series in Chattanooga. Tyler Burstrom watched all weekend and suffered along with his older brother.
While Trey just helped Lee University return to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, Tyler is part of the second Chattanooga State team reaching the doorstep to Grand Junction, Colo. The Tigers are scheduled to play at 3 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday at Gordon College in Barnesville, Ga. A third game, if necessary, would be Sunday at 2.
Coach Greg Dennis calls the younger Burstrom “the pulse beat of our team.”
Exclusively a pitcher this year after also playing third base in 2009, the sophomore from William Blount High School in Maryville still has shown his versatility. Having started five games at various times, plus pitching long and short relief, Burstrom is 6-0 with a team-high seven saves and a team-best 2.37 earned run average. The six wins tie him for the team lead with Will Phillips (6-1), one of only two Tigers who has pitched more innings than Burstrom’s 45 2/3.
The 5-foot-10 Burstrom was a bulldog in the state/region tournament.