CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Soddy-Daisy pulled one out the hard way and avoided an upset, but Walker Valley didn’t let Ooltewah escape in the District 5-AAA baseball tournament at Walker Valley.
Top-seeded Soddy-Daisy gave up five more hits than it got but played fairly good defense and capitalized on a couple of Rhea County miscues for a 3-0 win. The Mustangs used two key hits to break open a pitchers’ duel and win 3-1 over Ooltewah, the No. 2 seed.
The same teams will go at it again Monday in their best-of-three series. Walker Valley and Ooltewah will play at 5 and the Trojans and Rhea County will play at 8.
If Saturday’s winners win again Monday, the championship game will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday. If either or both of the series are stretched to a third game, the championship would be at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Michael Houchin had not pitched a district game this year, and Walker Valley coach Joe Shamblin was beaming after his gamble paid off.