Article by Chris Brooks (Hendersonville Star News)

HENDERSONVILLE – If the Beech High baseball team wants to host their half of the District 9-AAA Tournament bracket, they had to go through archrival Hendersonville to do so.

The Buccaneers took an important step toward doing so as sophomore pitcher Dalton Hall held the visiting Commandos in check on Tuesday evening, allowing only two hits in a 7-0 victory.

Hall (5-0) struck out six Commandos and walked three in earning the complete-game victory, needing 95 pitches to do so. However, the right-hander didn't necessarily get ahead of hitters in the count, throwing first-pitch strikes to 11 of 25 batters he faced.

"I just had to calm down and get myself under control, just go from there" Hall said.

The Bucs' offense gave him plenty of help, especially junior Kody Timmons. Timmons had a single, double and triple.

Beech (17-8 overall, 4-1 in the District 9-AAA North Division) got to Hendersonville starting pitcher Will Wacaser (4-3) early and often, scoring six runs on six hits against the Commando junior in 3 2/3 innings. Wacaser was unable to get out of the fourth inning after throwing 78 pitches, being relieved by senior Alec Nelson.

"We felt good going in – and (Wacaser's) a good pitcher – but we had a good approach to him," Beech head coach Jimmy Neal said. "We put the ball in play, and we took advantage of opportunities."

The main damage came in the fourth inning as the Bucs rallied for four runs. Senior Daniel Lankster's infield single scored classmate Nathan Neal, and junior Jacob Jenkins' squeeze bunt scored senior Brady Ballinger from third base for a 4-0 lead.

Wacaser's errant pickoff attempt at first base allowed Lankster to score moments later, and Timmons' infield single plated Jenkins to give Beech a 6-0 lead.

After Wacaser hit junior Isaac Robertson with a pitch – the third batter Wacaser hit in his stint on the mound – Nelson came in and pitched the rest of the contest, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three hitters.

However, Wacaser's troubles were not what left Hendersonville head coach Mike Hendrix disappointed.

"I'm disappointed because we didn't swing the bats real well," Hendrix said. "Our approaches went back to being wild again, and we worked all day (Monday) on having a good approach. I'm sure that (Hall) had something to do with that too."

Neal said one key to Hall's performance was keeping his mechanics under control, which helped induce numerous ground balls. Only four of Hendersonville's outs came via fly balls, while 10 were hit on the ground.

"(Pitches) were low," Neal said. "We just wanted to make sure that he did what he was supposed to do as far as pitching mechanics. That's the big thing with Dalton. If he gets his mechanics right, he brings the ball down."

Hendrix added, "(Hall) pitched a good ballgame. It doesn't matter what grade you're in. If you've got pretty good stuff, you've got a pretty good chance to win a game."

Hendersonville (20-6, 3-1) got runners to second and third in the second inning, but that rally was short circuited when senior Grant Williams was picked off at third base on a failed bunt attempt by senior Braden Schwedt.

Hall didn't allow a hit from the third inning until the seventh, when Williams rapped a double off the right-centerfield wall.

"He pitched, and that's what we talk to our guys about," Neal said. "Sometimes, you've just got to take a little bit off to make sure you throw that strike. It's hard to believe, but he didn't have his good curveball. But he pitched, and sometimes, when you don't have your best stuff that night, you have to make adjustments."

Senior Austin Brown had the only other Commando hit, a single through the left side of the infield as Hendersonville executed a hit-and-run in the second inning.

Jenkins scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, and Timmons doubled in Jenkins in the third for a 2-0 lead.

Timmons tripled in the sixth and scored the game's final run on Robertson's groundout.

The win puts Beech one win away from winning the District 9-AAA North Division. If they defeat the Commandos on Wednesday, they would clinch home-field advantage for their half of the bracket.

A Hendersonville victory would not have clinched the division for the Commandos, as they still have to defeat Gallatin on Monday in a make-up contest.

Either way, both teams are looking toward the district tournament, which is slated to start on May 1.

"The thing about this is, whether you win tomorrow or not, everybody gets a chance in the tournament," Hendrix said. "That's what counts. You want to get hot there. Sure, Beech wants to play (at home), and we want to play (at home). But at least you get to play."