Story was originally published in The Sylva Herald
The Smoky Mountain Mustangs lost a Mountain Seven Conference baseball game by a score of 4-3 Friday at East Henderson.
The low-scoring game was highlighted by Mustang pitchers Brylen Conlin and Cale Justice as well as Eagle pitcher Devin Walker, who went the distance for the win.
East jumped to an early two-run lead in the first inning courtesy of a two-run double from Walker, which scored Reece Alverson, who got on base via a base on balls, and Mason Smith, who singled.
The Mustangs (3-9, 2-5) answered with three of their own in the top of the second inning. Gavin McCoy led off with a single, followed by a Max Buchanan single and Zeb Fisher walk. Parker Wilson proceeded to laser a sacrifice fly that plated McCoy and advanced Buchanan. Cason Sheppard then hit a single to score Buchanan and move Fisher to third base. The inning was capped off by a Nathan Porter groundout that scored Fisher.
East answered with one run in the bottom of the third thanks to an Evan Stokes double that scored Walker, who hit a single, for a 3-3 tie.
Both teams were held scoreless from the fourth inning to the seventh despite plenty of opportunities for each side.
East began the bottom of the seventh with a single from Ayden Sumner and a Jordan Holbert walk off Justice (1-2). A failed sacrifice bunt and a ground out put runners on second and third with two outs. Smoky elected to intentionally walk Walker to load the bases. Justice then walked Stokes on a full count to score the winning run.
“It just stinks because East won the game rather than us losing it,” Coach Jeremy Ellenburg said. “If we had been winning, we can brush this game off and tip our caps, but because we have been struggling, a close one like this really hurts.”
The Mustang JVs won by a score of 21-1 in four innings in their matchup against East. They are 6-3 on the season.
The offense was highlighted by Sheppard who earned three singles in the contest.
Ethan Gilder was the starting pitcher, going three innings, and was relieved by Jason Waliezer.
“We played hard, and we found a way to play consistently,” Coach Scott Mitchell said. “We showed up from the first inning to the last. Now we look forward to spring break and North Henderson when we get back.”
