For the third straight weekend rain is playing havoc with Chattanooga area baseball tournaments. Central’s Pounder Classic is the latest, joining four tournaments the first weekend Tennessee teams could officially play and last weekend’s Ooltewah Invitational.
Central got some games in Thursday but was unable to play Friday. Co-host Hixson got in one game Friday but the others were canceled by lightning, which served also as a precursor of the ensuing rain.
Cleveland coach Ted Carson wishes the rain had come a little sooner, certainly before his Blue Raiders’ 3-0 loss to Morristown West could be official. Cleveland has lost three of its last four games and failed to score a run in three of those, including back-to-back defeats to rival Walker Valley on Monday and Tuesday.
It was partially Friday’s opponent but mostly the Blue Raiders’ offensive ineffectiveness that led to the 3-0 loss to Morristown West. They managed just three hits, and even when they got a runner or two on they ran themselves out of scoring opportunities.
In the first inning leadoff man Tyler Shugart worked a walk and stole second. However, a bunt attempt was virtually right back to the pitcher and Shugart was cut down at third. In the second, Jake Moats led off with a single but was stranded at third after two strikeouts – one on a called third strike – and a fly ball to right.