MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — If there was a Cy Young Award for high school pitchers in Tennessee, Silverdale Baptist Academy senior Turner Junkins would be front-runner material.
Just down the road from where he’ll join the Middle Tennessee State University baseball team along with fellow Seahawks standout Brett Rogers, Junkins put a final mark on his phenomenal season on the mound.
With his team facing elimination Wednesday morning in the Division II-AA state tournament, Junkins was dominant, striking out 12 batters in a complete game as the Seahawks won 4-0 against Christian Academy of Knoxville at Middle Tennessee Christian.
Silverdale (35-7) was not able to extend its title bid beyond the next game, however, losing 8-0 on Wednesday evening to Goodpasture (36-5), which will have to win twice against Northpoint Christian (34-6-1) on Thursday to repeat as state champion.
The Seahawks, though, made it that far thanks in part to Junkins.