Halls wins three at Chattanooga tourney

CHATTANOOGA-- Coach has to like this.

Last week, Halls High School coach Doug Polston said his team had reached a crossroads. It was time, he said, for his young team to grow up, play consistently, get ready for the approaching District 3-3A tournament.

The Big Red did just that this weekend in tournament play, going 3-1 and looking sharp against quality opponents.

Halls earned two solid wins Friday night, beating Marion County 9-6 and Coffey County 5-4. Both games were played at Soddy-Daisy High School.

David White earned the win in the first game, going 6 1/3 innings. Tyler Turner came on at the end to notch the save.

The Red Devils won the second game on a walk-off walk. John Michael Clarke went the distance to earn the win.

Several parents said the latter game was one of the best of the season.

Saturday's day game was a wild 12-7 victory over Rhea County at historic Engel Stadium downtown. This one had a little bit of everything, folks, including Marvin Gaye songs on the P.A., a confused scoreboard operator and a monstrous fifth inning shot by Halls first baseman Austin Noe.

Noe's triple would have been a home run anywhere else, making his shot off the center field wall that much more impressive. Engel's deep center field dimensions rival the old Polo Grounds.

Halls broke Rhea County's back in the fifth, scoring nine runs to take the lead for good. Jared Burton earned the win, going 6 1/3 innings. Garrett Gresham notched the save.

The Red Devils lost the nightcap game against Soddy-Daisy 8-6.

Polston declined to play in the championship round today. The Saturday night loss to Soddy-Daisy meant the Red Devils would have to commit to playing three games today.

Halls plays at Powell High tomorrow (Monday, April 23) at 5 p.m.

In-game blog for Halls vs. Rhea County at Engel Stadium (Halls stats only)

Top 1st
Daniel Dayton singles
Tyler Turner walks
Gary Cooper reaches on fielder's choice, Dayton out at third
Austin Noe singles
Mitch Davis grounds to second, Turner scores
Quentin Bowman walks
Spencer Fielden hits into a fielder's choice, Bowman out.

(Score 1-0)

Top 2nd
Paul McConkey singles
David White hits a sacrifice bunt
Dayton lines out to center
McConkey thrown out at second (8-4 putout)

(score tied at one)

Top 3rd
Turner singles
Cooper singles
Noe reaches on an error
Davis walks
Bowman hits RBI single
Fielden hits a sacrfice bunt
McConkey lines out to right

(score 3-1)

Top 4rth
White flies out to second
Dayton grounds out to short
Turner flies out to right

(score 3-1)

Top 5th
Cooper singles
Noe hits an RBI triple, scores Coop
Davis walks
Bowman hits an RBI single
Fielden bunts
McConkey walks, brings home a run
White hits into a fielder's choice
Dayton hits an RBI single, scores two
Turner hits into a fielder's choice
Coop hits an RBI single, scores two
Noe is hit by a pitch
Davis walks
Bowman walks
Fielden grounds out to the pitcher

(score 12-6)

Top 6th
McConkey grounds out to second
White flies out to short
Dayton singles, steals second
Turner flies out to center

(score 12-7)

Top 7th
Cooper grounds out to short
Noe walks, advances to second on wild pitch
Davis flies out to center
Bowman flies out to short

Final score: Halls 12, Rhea County 7

WP -- Jared Burton
Save -- Garrett Gresham