Lookout Valley High School baseball sophomore pitcher Eli Pell is no stranger to being put in big spots and delivering on the mound.
Pell — who provided relief heroics in last year’s Class 1A substate win over East Robertson — came through once again in the pinch for the Yellow Jackets as they bounced back in Tuesday’s 7-1 District 5-A home victory over Sale Creek. The southpaw was a bulldog on the mound as he went the distance on 113 pitches while allowing four hits, two walks, no earned runs and 10 strikeouts.
“Last night we had it and lost the game at the last second. It was just one of those everybody-sucked moments,” said Pell, referring to Monday’s 9-8 extra-inning loss to the Panthers. “I knew I had to come back and do something and I was ready to take the ball today and lead the team. This is going to be one of our up years.”
But it won’t happen without some extra attention to detail, which the Jackets attended to Monday with an extended practice that ended just before Tuesday’s first pitch. Lookout Valley (9-1, 3-1) responded with a three-run first inning as junior Christian Chandler laced an RBI double down the left field line for the game’s first run. Senior Wyatt Hulvey followed three batters later with a two-strike line drive single to right center to provide a 3-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets have now scored 35 runs in the first inning this season.