After exploding past Pigeon Forge early Thursday, the Nolensville High School baseball team ran out of steam in the later game against the Tigers – the third meeting in two days – to exit the Class AA state tournament in the final four and narrowly missing a shot at playing for a state title. Nolensville blasted Pigeon Forge 18-5 in just five innings in the early game, racking up 20 hits, but fell behind early and never recovered in the second outing to drop a 3-2 decision. The Knights had to beat Pigeon Forge twice to reach the state final after falling 4-0 Wednesday night. “It was a great run,” Nolensville coach Zach Hudson said. “We hated to lose that last one and we came up just short of playing for a state championship, but I’m extremely proud of the team. They competed and that’s all I could ask of them. They fought to the end.” The Tigers opened with two runs in the first inning in the late game and made it 3-0 through three innings. The Knights managed just a single and a walk over five innings against Pigeon Forge pitcher Riley Franklin. They opened the sixth with three consecutive hits as Quentin Jenkins and Eric Harper both drove in runs to pull within 3-2 before stranding the tying run on third. Pigeon Forge reached on a single and an error in the bottom of the frame, but a line out to second closed the sixth. Franklin shut the door with a four-pitch strikeout, pop up to first and ground out to third to end the contest. He allowed the two earned on five hits and struck out 11 with one walk. Senior Ethan Syling collected hits in both outings and drove in two runs in the early game at the top of the order for Nolensville. Hudson said senior leaders like Syling helped guide the Knights to within a win of playing for a state title. “He’s just been so gritty all season for us – it all starts with guys like him,” Hudson said, adding how Syling sprained his ankle in Wednesday’s 11-10 win against Ripley but battled through to contribute Thursday. That same game included a save from sophomore Ethan McElvain. “He told me Tuesday morning, ‘Coach, I can pitch every day this week,’” Hudson said. “Well, we can’t do that, but that’s him and I appreciate that.” McElvain had moved to center field late after Syling’s injury and in the seventh Hudson said he started walking toward the mound. “When he started walking in, he basically pointed to himself, like ‘I got this,’” Hudson said. “These are the types of guys we have and I think this group and this program has been elevated. “When you are upset with not winning a state championship, that shows how far we have come. These seniors and this group have helped elevate this program where that is an expectation. We want to play for a championship.” McElvain got the final two outs for the Knights to push further in consolation play and keep their championship hopes alive. Nolensville definitely looked poised for a championship run early Thursday scoring four runs in the first, six in the second and five in the fifth to overwhelm the Tigers in the second meeting. Senior catcher Grayson Rains went 2-for-3 and drove in a team-best four runs, while both Jackson Hill and Harper homered and had three RBI apiece. Harper, Tyler Hummel and Bryan Cluck all had three hits in the barrage that forced the second game. “We expect to be playing (at state),” Hudson said. “We have a short history, but our culture at this school is special and the community is on fire for this school. It’s a great place to be and we will be back.” Pigeon Forge fell in the championship game Friday 14-8 against Gibbs, which defeated Watertown, Covington and Greenbrier to reach the final. The Eagles of Knox County won their second state title and first since 2010. Nolensville finished the season 27-11 overall and went 3-2 in their second state tournament.
Pigeon Forge 3, Nolensville 2, Class AA Consolation Game 2
NHS 000 002 0 – 2 5 1
PFHS 201 000 X – 3 4 0
WP – Franklin. LP – Dismang.
NHS – Syling 1-3, Hummel 1-3, Jenkins 1-3, McElvain 0-3, Harper 1-3, Cluck 0-3, Rains 0-3, Hill 0-2, Riggs 1-2.
PFHS – Effler 1-1, McElland 2-3, Loy 0-3, Franklin 0-1, Johnson 1-3, McFall 0-1, Hughes 0-3, Hensely 0-3, Catlett 0-3.
2B – Harper. RBI – Harper, Jenkins, Johnson. SB – McElland. Team LOB – NHS 4, PFHS 9.
Nolensville 18, Pigeon Forge 5, Class AA Consolation Game 1
PFHS 300 02X X – 5 5 2
NHS 465 3XX X – 18 20 1
WP – Dismang. LP – McFall.
PFHS – Effler 1-2, McElland 1-3, Loy 1-2, Franklin 2-2, Johnson 0-3, McFall 0-2, Hughes 0-2, Hensley 0-1, Catlett 0-2.
Source: Williamson Herald
