Down to their last four outs and in danger of losing two of three games to rival Trion in a key GHSA Region 6-A public series late in the regular season, the Gordon Lee Trojans found some two-out magic Friday night.
Bo Rhudy's three-run double turned around a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning, helping lead the Trojans to a 6-4 win.
The victory gave Gordon Lee (13-10, 9-1), which started the season 1-6, a 2-1 series win and puts the team one win away from clinching the region championship. Trion (13-8, 7-4) remains in second place.
Nate Dunfee started the winning rally with a bunt single, and after a pair of walks, Rhudy laced a line drive that skipped past the center fielder, scoring all three runners. Holt Roberts followed with an RBI single for a 6-3 lead.
"Bo's been great all year, and he was ready," Gordon Lee coach Mike Dunfee said. "That was big for us. Trion has a good team, with several good arms, and they are coached well. I think they can make some noise in the playoffs. This series was good for both of us, just good, tight games."
Gordon Lee's Brodie Genter, who has been out with an injury, returned to action and drove in the game's first run with a single in the first inning. The visiting Bulldogs, after tying the score in the third, took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on consecutive RBI doubles from Cayden Watson and Jackson Morrison.
Garren Ramey gave up an RBI double to Conner Deparlier in the seventh but induced a groundout with the tying runs on base to end the game.
Ringgold 12, North Murray 2: Dawson Ware was one of six players to record two hits for the Tigers as they improved to 15-12 overall and 10-3 in Region 6-AAA. Sam Crew, Brody Gann, Brady Hermann, Ross Norman and Mason Parker also had two hits, and Dre Morris knocked in three runs for Ringgold.
Coahulla Creek 3, LFO 2: Julian Childs allowed three hits and an earned run in five innings, and Ben Glines went the final two innings and allowed one hit as they pitched the Colts (12-12, 8-7 Region 6-AAA) to victory. Darian Monteaugudo was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the winners, while Donnie Brown had two hits and Jacob Gregg drove in a run for Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (16-9, 9-4).
Calhoun 5-13, Woodland-Bartow 1-2: Kris Sutton had six hits, drove in four runs and scored four times as the Yellow Jackets (17-9, 7-5 Region 6-AAAAA) swept the doubleheader and the three-game series. Jax Bishop went five innings in Friday's opener and struck out 11, with Cooper Evans going four innings of one-run ball in game two with 10 strikeouts.
Soddy-Daisy 10, Sale Creek 0: The Trojans cruised to a five-inning victory at home a day after the Panthers won 9-1 at Sale Creek. Soddy-Daisy (16-4) left only three runners on base as Eli Coffelt, Noah Ferguson and Aaron Watson all drove in two runs. Cooper Poe pitched a shutout with five strikeouts and three hits allowed, and leadoff hitter Cameron Natale had two hits, including a double, and scored twice for the Trojans.
McCallie 8, David Crockett 0: The Blue Tornado stole eight bases, and Carter Hewitt homered and drove in two runs. Zach Porter, whose two hits included a triple, also drove in two runs, Ralston Welch added a pair of hits and two stolen bases, and Ethan Crump and Nate Jackson combined for the shutout and were backed by three double plays and error-free defense.
South Pittsburg 8, Huntsville 1: Coy Hackney pitched with effective wildness as he allowed two hits and one run in six innings. Kamden Wellington was 2-for-2 with three RBIs for South Pittsburg, and Hackney had two hits and scored three runs.
South Pittsburg 13, Bledsoe County 1: Jayden Mount had four hits and as many runs scored while falling a home run shy of the cycle. Britton Case and Jace Stone drove in three runs, with Stone going 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Luk Rector had eight strikeouts in five innings for the win.
SOFTBALL
Soddy-Daisy 4, Chattanooga Christian 3: Carissa Wilson hit a walk-off RBI single to right field, and Tatum Massengale had three hits in the leadoff spot. Regan Rowan earned the win and did not allow an earned run in six innings.
Soddy-Daisy 4, White County 3: Jenna Sims homered and doubled while driving in three runs as the Lady Trojans held off a late rally.
Soddy-Daisy 6, Oakland 5: Adasyn Wilkey hit a walk-off RBI double, Skylar Gooden had three hits and Tatum Massengale drove in two runs for Soddy-Daisy.
Walker Valley 14, Coffee County 10: Lady Mustangs sluggers Madilyn Kidd and Sierra Brown combined for nine RBIs and five extra-base hits, with each hitting a home run and Brown's shot a grand slam. Walker Valley pulled away for good in the top of the seventh with an RBI double from Alexis Thornton, which was followed by Kidd's two-run homer.
Silverdale Baptist 10, Oakland 1: Bentlee Stiner homered twice as she went 3-for-3 with four RBIs for the Lady Seahawks, whose Gabbie Hensley drove in four runs and homered. Katie Willoughby allowed three hits in the five-inning victory.
Silverdale Baptist 6, Cookeville 5: Kennedy Stinson homered twice and eighth grader Amar Starling went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a homer. Willoughby tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief for the win.
Silverdale Baptist 9, Ooltewah 1: Stiner, Stinson and McCade Cooper all homered, and Cooper fanned seven batters in four innings for the win.
Gibbs 2, Silverdale Baptist 0: Hensley and Amare Starling doubled, but the Lady Seahawks only had three hits.
Cookeville 5, Ooltewah 3: The Lady Owls' Jaycee Holt tripled and had two hits, and Alexis Poling went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Ooltewah's Emma Ladd struck out seven and did not allow an earned run in five innings.
Baylor 5, Rhea County 0; Baylor 1, Summitt 0; Baylor 5, Bradley Central 2
BOYS' SOCCER
Boyd Buchanan 6, Grace Baptist 0: Ben Hauke had a hat trick and Mills Wood scored twice.
Baylor 5, Fort Payne 1: Gui Gragnano had two goals and as many assists as the Red Raiders (9-1) fought back from a 2-1 deficit after the 20th minute. Eric Fossen, Mac Hickman, Jake Kellerhals and Aleksi Peltonen were also credited with playing well.
Southeast Whitfield 10, Hampton 0: Jonathan Hernandez scored five goals, four in the first half, as the Raiders (15-2-3) rolled into the second round of the GHSA Class AAAA playoffs.
Northwest Whitfield 10, Fayette County 0: Also in AAAA, Adrian Capistran and Nico Cuna each scored a pair of early goals as the Bruins (12-5-1) built a 6-0 lead and cruised in Tunnel Hill.
Gordon Central 9, Haralson County 0: The Warriors eased into the second round in Class AA.
TENNIS
The Baylor girls remained unbeaten after a 7-0 shutout of rival GPS on Thursday. Agda Laakso and Sloan Proffitt were dominant in doubles with an 8-3 victory, and Laakso and Helen Guerry outscored their opponents 12-2 in the top two singles matches.
Roundup reports compiled by Marty Kirkland, Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact them at sports@timesfreepress.com.