Baylor senior Wells Grisham was untouchable in his last outing on the mound at Wyatt McMahan Field, throwing his second no-hitter of the season and helping the Red Raiders secure their 24th all-time trip to the state tournament.
Grisham’s gem delivered an 11-0 victory for the hosts in the opening game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against Briarcrest Christian, and Baylor completed its sweep of the best-of-three series in the TSSAA Division II-AA baseball quarterfinals by winning 5-3 to move on to next week’s Spring Fling in Murfreesboro with hopes for the program’s sixth state title.
Grisham, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound left-hander, struck out 11 batters in the five-inning victory, and the University of Pittsburgh signee improved to 8-0 this season with 71 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings pitched.
The celebration was on for Greg Elie’s team after senior left-hander Brody Brooks picked up his third save of the season when he struck out his only batter faced to strand the bases loaded and nail down the Red Raiders’ two-run win in the nightcap.
At the plate, Baylor (26-5) showed off its power early as Blake Lundy and Zack Morrison each hit a three-run homer in a seven-run second inning to build a 10-0 lead in the opening game. Lundy’s mammoth shot to left field that sailed 75 feet beyond the trees was his 10th homer of the season.
Meanwhile, Alabama signee Brooks Berry hit a tying two-run homer in game two as Baylor overcame a rocky first inning on the mound. The Red Raiders did not allow a run over the next six innings, with the pitching of Henry Allen, Luke Fraley, Brody Hudson getting Baylor into a groove before Brooks finished off the tight victory.
Kilby Hartley tripled and scored a pair of runs for the Red Raiders in the second game.
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Bell Buckle Webb 4-0, Boyd Buchanan 3-12: Boyd Buchanan freshman Maddox Medlock homered, doubled twice, singled and stole two bases in the doubleheader, while sophomore Coleman Smith threw five scoreless innings while homering and driving in three runs to help the Buccaneers force a decisive third game in the Division II-A state quarterfinal series. That matchup with a Spring Fling trip on the line is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Boyd Buchanan.
Knoxville Grace 5-13, SBA 4-5: The season ended for Silverdale Baptist Academy (27-10) as the Seahawks were swept in a Division II-A state quarterfinal series. Tanner Bayne, Graham King and Brett Oxford homered for Silverdale, while Maddux Hasty struck out 10 batters and allowed two earned runs in five innings in game one of the series
White House-Heritage 6-12, Marion County 3-6: The season came to a close for the Warriors (21-15) as they were swept in their Class 2A sectional. Neno Humphrey cleared the bases with a three-run double with Marion County down to its final out in game two, but the Warriors couldn’t force a third contest.
Sale Creek 5, Trousdale County 4: The Panthers (21-10) won the opening game of their Class 1A sectional series at home as Gabriel Abbott pitched a complete game while striking out seven batters and allowing six hits and two walks. Sale Creek exploded for four runs in the first inning, which included a two-run single from Dylan Cunningham, and now the Panthers are one win away from advancing to the Spring Fling for the first time.
Gordonsville 15-12, South Pittsburg 5-0: Kayden Kilgore went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI in game one of the Class 1A sectional series for the Pirates (22-16-1), who were shut out in the doubleheader’s nightcap as Gordonsville swept to advance to the Spring Fling.
SOFTBALL
CCS 14, Lipscomb Academy 0: Kylie Black, MK Flowers and Hannah Smith drove in two runs apiece for Chattanooga Christian School, and those three were among nine players in all who collected RBIs for the host Lady Chargers as they completed a sweep of the best-of-three series in the Division II-AA quarterfinals a day after winning Tuesday’s opener 11-1.
Black also pitched five scoreless innings while striking out nine batters in Wednesday’s matchup, when Abby Fillman homered to help send the reigning state champions back to the Spring Fling next week.
Baylor 13-14, CPA 1-3: In another DII-AA quarterfinal series, the Lady Red Raiders (23-9-2) rolled at Christ Presbyterian Academy, sweeping Wednesday’s doubleheader in Nashville and collecting 11 extra-base hits. Baylor senior Olivia Elkhill homered and drove in a combined seven runs in the series, while Adi Wallington struck out seven batters while pitching five strong innings in game one.
The Lady Red Raiders, whose 17 state titles are the most in TSSAA softball history and include a record nine in a row from 2015-24, are headed to the Spring Fling for the 17th time in a row. Three of the teams that advanced in DII-AA are from Chattanooga, with GPS outscoring Brentwood Academy 17-0 in another quarterfinal series sweep Tuesday.
Copper Basin 6, CSLA 5: The host Lady Cougars scored five runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth to rally past the Lady Eagles (16-8) in the Region 2-A title game. In Friday’s sectional round with Spring Fling state tournament berths at stake, Copper Basin will host Trousdale County, while CSLA will visit Gordonsville.
Cannon County 5, Marion County 0: The Lady Warriors (23-8) fell in the Region 3-AA title game despite starting pitcher Brynna Thomasson not allowing an earned run while striking out six batters. Marion County will visit White House Heritage in Friday’s sectional round.
Alcoa 13, Soddy Daisy 1: The Lady Trojans (22-19-1) mustered just one hit, an RBI single by senior Izzy Webb, in the Region 3-AAA championship game and must travel to Stone Memorial on Friday for a sectional matchup.
East Hamilton 4, Lincoln County 0: Freshman ace Emmaline Davis threw a masterpiece in the Region 3-AAAA title showdown as the Lady Hurricanes star struck out nine batters while allowing four hits and three walks in a complete game.
At the plate, Rosaline Whisman collected a pair of hits and doubled while scoring a run in the victory for East Hamilton (30-5), which got RBIs from Davis, Bri Nichols and Kat Woody. The Lady Hurricanes will host a sectional Friday versus Hendersonville.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Cleveland 2, Walker Valley 0: The Blue Raiders (15-4-2) won the Region 3-AAA title behind a pair of goals from senior Sloan Bolanos — sophomores Rader Brose and Edward Nunez were credited with assists — and earned the right to host a sectional Saturday with a state tournament berth at stake, while Walker Valley must travel.
CSLA 1, CSAS 0: The Eagles (15-1-3) won the Region 2-A title as senior Mark Hetrick provided a clean sheet in goal and will host a sectional, while the Patriots must travel.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.