DUNLAP, Tenn. – It took Cam Dickens 106 pitches, but the last one was the sweetest.
With a run in and a pair of Sequatchie County batters in scoring position Thursday night, the Notre Dame pitcher went to a full count before securing a strikeout to nail down a back-and-forth, 9-8 victory over the host Indians.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a kid throw that many pitches,” Notre Dame coach George Oleksik said. “We didn’t pitch great, but we did just enough to win.”
Each time Oleksik considered making a switch on the mound, the sophomore would come up with a big pitch or the Fighting Irish (7-14) would make a big play in the field.
For example, Sequatchie’s Houston Mainord reached on a bunt and moved to second on a passed ball. Dickens balked him to third, but Joseph Ripper gunned him down at the plate. Logan Potter, who had reached on an infield single, then scored on a passed ball.