Teammates celebrate with Beech High junior Ryan Mortensen (5) after his game-winning single during Tuesday evening’s 4-3 victory over Gallatin.
Ryan Mortensen’s teammates were more than willing to give him a shower after Tuesday evening’s game against visiting Gallatin.
The Beech High junior singled in senior Jacob Jenkins with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Buccaneers rallied to defeat the Green Wave, 4-3.
Mortensen’s single came after senior Isaac Robertson was intentionally walked by Carlos Hernandez to load the bases with one out.
“I was looking to drive one deep and let the runner at third tag,” Mortensen said. “(Hernandez) threw the second pitch over the middle, and that’s all we needed right there.”
Gallatin High junior first baseman Andy Denning receives a pickoff throw as Beech junior Michael Hayes dives back into first base safely during fifth-inning action.
Gallatin (10-5 overall, 1-4 in District 9-AAA) led 3-0 after four innings, taking the lead against Beech junior starting pitcher Ian McWilliams.
Green Wave senior James Rockwell allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings, exiting the game after issuing a four-pitch walk to Jenkins to begin the seventh.
“Our guys played really hard, and we did good things … but we didn’t do enough good things against a team like Beech,” Gallatin head coach Mark Wilson said. “Coach (Jimmy) Neal has been doing this a long time, and he plays situational baseball.”
Beech High senior Jacob Jenkins receives a throw at first base during second-inning action. Jenkins had two hits, drew two walks and scored two runs in the Buccaneers’ 4-3 victory on Tuesday evening.
Buccaneer senior Bradley Crafton allowed one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory.
Beech (9-10, 3-1) scored three runs in the fifth inning as senior Tyler Maskill’s double drove in Jenkins and junior Michael Hayes. Senior Isaac Robertson singled in Maskill to tie the game at 3-3.
Junior Andy Denning singled in classmate Jordan Mason with Gallatin’s first run in the third inning. A pair of Beech errors allowed freshman Brady Harris and junior Nathan Kernell to score in the fourth, increasing the Green Wave lead to 3-0.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
Gallatin 001 200 0 – 3 8 0
Beech 000 030 1 – 4 10 2
James Rockwell, Carlos Hernandez (7) and Bailey Russell; Ian McWilliams, Bradley Crafton (6) and Ryan Mortensen. WP – Crafton (2-2). LP – Rockwell (3-2). Records: Gallatin 10-5 overall, 1-4 in District 9-AAA; Beech 9-10, 3-1.