MURFREESBORO — Siegel will play for a spot in the Class AAA baseball final four on Wednesday after defeating Beech 2-1 in 10 innings Tuesday night at Siegel High School.
Steven Moss singled on a 2-2 count with two outs plating Braxton Baird for the game-winning run.
“We knew coming in runs would be at a premium tonight,” Siegel coach Craig Reavis said. “The game plan was to come in and try to outlast (Chase) Burns; we scratched a run early, and I thought we would get out of here in seven, but Beech fought back.”
Both starting pitchers were brilliant in the outing as Bucs seniors Chase Burns struck out 16 batters on 106 pitches. Stars starter Jameson Nephew was just as sharp, not allowing a hit until the sixth inning. Defensively the Starts committed just one error but were sure-handed in the outfield and dirt.
“We matched them and did everything we had to do on the mound and in the field tonight,” Reavis said. “Caleb (Marks) came in and threw up zeros until something went our way.”
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Caden Cutrell plated Luke Fleming on a double to right field for the 1-1 tie. The score would hold until the bottom of the 10th inning.
Facing Preston Dreebus, Siegel drew a walk on its first at-bat before back-to-back outs by the Bucs defense had Beech feeling confident.
Facing a 2-2 count with Baird standing on third base after stealing second and third, Moss put the barrel on the ball to send the shot to the outfield to score Baird and send the Stars into a celebratory frenzy.
Siegel will face off against Science Hill at 12:30, while the Bucs will face Brighton at 10 a.m. in the loser’s out contest.
“We will be ready; I expect Jackson (McAlpin) to be ready to throw,” Reavis said. “He has thrown great his last two outings, and I expect him to do so again and give us a chance to win.”
For Beech, head coach Josh Carman took full responsibility for the loss.
“These guys know what is at stake at this point, that was a tough loss, but these guys know we have more work to do,” he said. “I take full responsibility for this loss. I should not have called a bone head squeeze play with two strikes. They took advantage of their chances, and we didn’t.”
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