Soddy-Daisy right-hander Dylan Perry made a minor adjustment in Monday's District 5-AAA high school baseball game against Cleveland, and it paid off in a major way.
Perry gave up two hits, none after the leadoff batter in the third inning, and the Trojans rallied and defeated the Blue Raiders 7-3 at Soddy-Daisy.
Soddy-Daisy coach Jared Hensley credited pitching coach Jamie Tricoglou for the suggestion that helped Perry gain better command. Cleveland leadoff batter Kellye Cawood had both of the hits off Perry - a single in the first inning that led to two unearned runs and a double in the third that was followed by a sacrifice bunt and Clark Lockerby's sacrifice fly to right.
"They started out hitting me the first two or three innings," said Perry, who walked one batter, hit one and struck out three. "But Coach Hensley and Coach Trig started telling me to get more on top of my fastball. It showed the rest of the game."
The Trojans' comeback started in the bottom of the third with Aaron Couch doubling in two, although the tying run was thrown out at the plate on the hit.
Addison Roberts delivered a run-scoring single with two out in the fifth, and after he moved up when Spencer Keylon walked, Hensley went with football and wrestling standout Ty Boeck as a pinch-runner. Luke Ellis then grounded a single through the middle, and Boeck scored the go-ahead run.
"I thought it was a good opportunity to put him out there where if we got a single, with his speed, he could score for us," Hensley said. "Every now and then they make me look good."
Roberts ended up 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Jacob Jennings went 2-for-2 with a double for Soddy-Daisy, driving in one run and scoring two.
"The first inning we looked a little nervous. I thought we were going to need to strike everybody out," Hensley said. "But hats off to my guys. They shored up the defense after the first inning."
Soddy-Daisy is now 9-6, but 5-0 in the district.
"I'd like to have a few of those weekend tournament games back," Hensley said. "But at the end of the day, it's the games in District 5-3A that's what's important. That's our focus. Now we've got to do it again tomorrow at Cleveland."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.