Hendersonville High junior Grant Williams picked up the complete-game victory as Team Tennessee clinched the top seed and earned a spot in the championship game of the Junior Sunbelt National Championship with Tuesday afternoon's 3-2 victory over Colorado at Eastern Oklahoma State College.

With the win, the Tennessee squad concluded pool play with an 8-1 record and advanced to face Texas in Wednesday evening's championship game. Texas had a 7-2 record in pool play, as did third-place Arizona.

Tennessee claimed a 4-1 victory over Texas in pool-play action last Saturday.

Team Tennessee advanced to the championship game for the fifth time over the last six seasons, winning back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012 and finishing as the runner-up in 2010 and 2014.

On Tuesday, Williams tossed a five-hitter, allowing two earned runs. The right-hander issued two base on balls and struck out five hitters.

Colorado scored single runs in the first and second innings.

Then, Williams retired 18 of the final 20 hitters he faced, striking out the first two hitters in the seventh before retiring the game's final hitter with an infield groundout.

Team Tennessee scored all of its runs in the first inning.

Colorado began the day in a three-way tie for second place but dropped both of its contests on Tuesday, including an 8-0 loss to Texas at McAlester High School earlier in the day.

The Tennessee squad bounced back from a 4-2 setback to Arizona on Tuesday afternoon in another game played at Eastern Oklahoma.

Team Tennessee didn't score until its final at-bat, in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Tennessee squad rolled to a 9-2 victory over Mississippi on Monday morning at McAlester High.

Then, Team Tennessee rolled to a 12-2, five-inning victory over the Oklahoma Gold squad on Monday evening at Eastern Oklahoma.

Williams doubled in a run during the six-run third inning.

Congratulations to Grant Williams (JR) who was selected to represent Team Tennessee in the Sunbelt Classic in Oklahoma this summer.  Click on the link for a full article.

 Article by Criag Harris (Gallatin News Examiner)

 MURFREESBORO – Baseball teams enjoy walk-off wins.

Hendersonville High's state-tournament opponents had too much fun for the Commandos' liking.

For the second consecutive game, Hendersonville fell in the bottom of the final inning, with senior Christian Busby's single giving Bartlett a 4-3, eight-inning victory over the Commandos in a Class AAA State Tournament losers bracket contest played at Oakland High's Mack Hawks Field.

"We had chances," Hendersonville senior leftfielder Braden Schwerdt said. "We just left runners on."

The Commandos suffered an 8-7 loss to Soddy-Daisy in its state opener on Tuesday afternoon, squandering leads of four and three runs in that contest. That game ended when a batter was hit by a bases-loaded pitch.

"It comes down to pitching," Hendersonville head coach Mike Hendrix said. "Grant (Williams) gave us a good thing. (Will) Wacaser pitched five good innings (Tuesday) night.

"We just couldn't get it done with whatever else we had."

All of the Commando runs on Wednesday came via two-out hits.

However, it was a squandered opportunity in the top of the eighth that proved costly.

Senior Austin Brown singled to centerfield with one out in the inning, and classmate Ben Smith followed with a double down the rightfield line.

That brought senior C.J. Burrow on in relief of classmate Jackson South, with both of those pitchers using a side-armed delivery.

Senior Jarcques Wordlaw drew a full-count walk to load the bases, but Burrow worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout to senior third baseman Parker Wilson.

"We thought that was our chance," Schwerdt said. "It gives them a little momentum going into the bottom of the inning.

"They capitalized."

Hendrix added, "It really hurt when we had the bases loaded with one out and didn't score. I thought about squeezing (a squeeze bunt), but the guy made good pitches. Good pitching will get good hitting sometimes."

Panther junior Barrett Taylor singled to lead off the bottom of the inning and moved to second base thanks to a wild pitch. Senior Ryan McBride followed by laying down a bunt that was fielded by senior third baseman Connor Fischer, and Fischer threw to shortstop Justin Long at third base, who tagged out Taylor.

Junior Jacob Nobles followed with a single through the right side of the infield, allowing Taylor to move to third base.

Then, Busby singled to deep leftfield to end the contest.

The two teams traded runs over their first three turns at-bat. Hendersonville senior leadoff hitter Connor Fischer was hit by a first-inning pitch, stole second base and scored on Brown's single up the middle.

Then, Wilson singled in junior leadoff hitter Justin Ammons in the bottom of the first.

Wordlaw drew a second-inning walk, moved to second base when junior Cooper Brenning grounded out and scored on Schwerdt's single through the left side of the infield.

The score remained at 2-1 until a fielding error opened the door for Bartlett to take the lead by adding two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

That was the only error of the game.

Busby scored the first run of the fifth inning on Wilson's groundout, and the second run scored from third base as senior Drew Hollis scampered home ahead of the throw from Long – the shortstop – as a baserunner was initially caught in a rundown between first and second base.

Williams singled down the leftfield line in the sixth, and junior courtesy runner Aris Welden moved to second base when Brown grounded out and scored on Smith's double to the right-centerfield wall.

Smith, Brown and Schwerdt all had two hits, accounting for six of the Commandos' seven.

"I'm so glad to see Ben step up," Hendrix said. "He's been playing since the Clarksville game (in the Region 5-AAA semifinal round) with a broken thumb.

"They busted their butts. They've played hard. They made some mistakes, but we've had a lot of guys step up since last Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We just didn't get a lot of timely hits."

The Panthers (27-8) actually rallied with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, with senior Jonathan Bowlan lacing the first pitch he saw into leftfield for a single. Junior pinch runner Josh Milzarek attempted to score from second base on the play, but Schwerdt's throw to Brenning at home plate was in time to tag Milzarek out, forcing extra innings.

"I knew if it was going to be hit it to me that I had to get to it quick," Schwerdt said. "I got lucky. I fielded it clean and made a good throw."

Williams tossed the first seven innings, allowing three unearned runs on seven hits. He issued five base on balls and struck out five hitters.

Sophomore right-hander Andrew Dorris (2-2) came on to start the eighth and was saddled with the loss.

"I'm very proud of these guys," Hendrix said. "Dorris got some experience.

"I'm very thrilled to be a part of this program, to have had the opportunity to go to the state tournament five times. I'm blessed."

Schwerdt added, "We knew we needed more than three runs to win the game. We knew it was going to be tough. We had a few key hits. We just needed a couple of more to win games like that."

Hendersonville (33-13) had won seven consecutive games before dropping its first two state contests.

"It's been a lot of fun," Schwerdt said. "We've dogpiled three times (in on-field celebrations after the district championship, region championship and sectional victories) and set a record for wins (equaling the single-season record of 33 victories). It was nice to get here. When we got here, we knew we didn't want to do this, go out 0-2. We had a chance. We just didn't capitalize."

Hendrix added, "You have to have the players to get here. Sometimes, you have the players – like the year with Zac Curtis (2010) – and it doesn't work out. It worked out this year. We have most of the pitching staff back next season, but we have a lot of holes to fill. We have to get these guys out there and play this summer."

Schwerdt is one of the team's 10 seniors, along with Brown, Fischer, Long, Smith, Wordlaw, Alec Nelson, Matthew Osborne, Drew Richard and Ethan White.

"They're great kids," Hendrix said. "They're the reason we are here. They're great kids, and they will go on and make something out of themselves. Hopefully, they will grow up and become good fathers and family people. That's the name of the game."

Schwerdt added, "It's nice to know we made it to the state tournament. It's tough seeing it end. I've been playing with some of these guys since I was nine years old. I'm going to miss them. It's a good season to end on."

Bartlett advanced to face Soddy-Daisy – which suffered a 6-1 loss to Hardin Valley in Wednesday afternoon's winners bracket final – in an elimination game that was slated to be played later on Wednesday evening.

Sports reporter Craig Harris can be contacted at 575-7138.

 

Hendersonville 110 001 00 – 3 7 1

Bartlett 100 020 01 – 4 10 0

Grant Williams, Andrew Dorris (8) and Cooper Brenning; Josh Smith, Jackson South (6), C.J. Burrow (8) and Andrew Miller. WP – Burrow. LP – Dorris (2-2). Records: Hendersonville 33-13, Bartlett 27-8.

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	UNIFORM / RESULTS
MARCH
15	CROSS HIT JACKSON	2:00	THOMPSON PARK	W 3-2; W 14-1 (2-0)
	CROSS HIT BRYAN	4:00	THOMPSON PARK
16	WHITE HOUSE MS	7:00	WHITE HOUSE MS	W 14-0 (3-0)
17	KNOX DOSS DRAKES CREEK	6:00	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 13-0; W 11-1 (5-0)
	HENDERSONVILLE HALOS	7:30
21	STATION CAMP MS	9:00	DRAKES CREEK #6	W 8-0 (6-0)
23	PORTLAND MS	7:30	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 9-1 (7-0)
24	HUNTER MS	6:00	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 9-1 (8-0)
26-29	CLARKSVILLE MS INVITATIONAL		CLARKSVILLE, TN	**CHAMPIONS**
27	BLACKMAN MS	5:00	ROSSVIEW HS	W 14-8 (9-0)
28	ROSSVIEW MS	1:30	ROSSVIEW HS	W 19-0 (10-0)
	WHITWORTH BUCHANNAN	3:30	ROSSVIEW HS	W 5-2 (11-0)
29	OAKLAND MS	1:30	CLARKSVILLE HS	W 2-0 (12-0)
APRIL
7	HENDERSONVILLE RANGERS 13U	7:45	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 9-6 (13-0)
10	RICHVIEW MS	7:00	DRAKES CREEK #3	L 7-8 (13-1)
11	RUCKER STEWART MS	9:00	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 9-4; W 12-2 (15-1)
	CLARKSVILLE NE MS	5:00
18	BLACKMAN MS	12:00	BLACKMAN MS	W 8-0 (16-1)
21	STAION CAMP MS	6:00	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 14-0; W 12-0 (17-1)
	RUCKER STEWART MS	7:45	DRAKES CREEK #3
22	JP2 MS	7:45	DRAKES CREEK #6	W 8-0 (18-1)
23	FRIENDSHIP CHRISTIAN MS	5:30 DH	FRIENDSHIP CHRIS HS	W 7-3; L 2-5 (19-2)
25	KNOX DOSS MS	8:30 AM	PORTLAND HS	W 8-0; 9-1 (21-2)
	HUNTER MS	10:30 AM	PORTLAND HS
26	CROSS HIT JACKSON	2:00 DH	AMERICAN LEGION PARK	W 3-2; L 5-7 (22-3)
27	JP2 MS	6:00	DRAKES CREEK MS	W 5-2 (23-3)
MAY
2	PORTLAND MS	9:00	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 8-0; W 30-4 (25-3)
	HENDERSONVILLE HALOS	1:00	DRAKES CREEK #3
2-3	BPA SPRING CLASSIC		NASHVILLE, TN	**3RD PLACE**
2	CROSS HIT JACKSON	4:00	DONELSON ROTARY #6	W 3-2 (26-3)
	SPRILL HILL BULLETS	6:00	DONELSON ROTARY #6	W 7-5 (27-3)
3	NORTH ALABAMA ELITE	11:00	DONELSON ROTARY #1	L 5-7 (27-4)
6	HENDERSONVILLE RANGERS 13U	4:00	DRAKES CREEK #6	W 7-1 (28-4)
8-10	PERFECT GAME SOUTHEAST SHOW	TBA	ATLANTA, GA	**10TH OF 40**
9	DIAMOND SIMCOX BLUE	8:00 AM	LAKEPOINT #13	W 12-1 (29-4)
	ELITE GAMERS - RWB	10:15 AM	LAKEPOINT #13	L 5-7 (29-5)
10	ROSWELL BLACK HORNETS	8:00 AM	LAKEPOINT #14	W 5-1 (30-5)
10	HARDKNOCK ORIOLES	10:15 AM	LAKEPOINT #13	L 0-4 (30-6)
11-15	SUMNER COUNTY MS TOURN	TBA	DRAKES CREEK PARK	**CHAMPIONS**
11	HUNTER MS	6:00	DRAKES CREEK #6	W 14-2 (31-6)
12	JP2 MS	7:45	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 4-3 (32-6)
15-17	FRIENDSHIP CHRISTIAN TOURN		FRIENDSHIP CHRIS HS	**CHAMPIONS**
15	TENEESSEE PROSPECTS 13U	8:00 PM	FRIENDSHIP CHRIS HS	W 6-3 (33-6)
16	XPLOSION BASEBALL	11:00 AM	FRIENDSHIP CHRIS HS	W 3-0 (34-6)
17	PHOENIX BASEBALL	11:00 AM	FRIENDSHIP CHRIS HS	W 8-4 (35-6)
23-25	TOP TENN WOOD BAT CLASSIC		NASHVILLE, TN	**8TH**
23	NASHVILLE KNIGHTS - AMERICAN	9:00 AM	SEVEN OAKS PARK	T 3-3 (35-6-1)
23	DULINS DODGERS - BOX	8:00 PM	SHELBY PARK #1	L 0-8 (35-7-1)
24	TN PROSPECTS	9:00 AM	SEVEN OAKS PARK	W 9-1 (36-7-1)
24	DULINS DOGERS - HENSON	4:30 PM	NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN	L 0-8 (36-8-1)
29-31	COMMANDO CLASSIC WOOD BAT		HENDERSONVILLE, TN	**RUNNER-UP**
29	MUSIC CITY SAINTS	4:00 PM	DRAKES CREEEK #3	W 8-0 (37-8-1)
30	NORTH ALABAMA ELITE	11:00 AM	DRAKES CREEK #3	L 2-9 (37-9-1)
	BELVUE BULLDOGS	8:00 PM	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 1-0 (38-9-1)
31	NASHVILLE KNIGHTS 13U	9:00 AM	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 6-3 (39-9-1)
	CROSS HIT JACKSON	5:00 PM	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 9-1 (40-9-1)
JUNE
3	WHITE HOUSE JV*	5:30 DH	WHITE HOUSE HS	W 6-2, 6-4 (42-9-1)
5-7	PSA SOX WOOD BAT INVITE		MEMPHIS, TN	**9TH PLACE**
5	BARTLETT HS JV	5:00 PM	BARTLETT	W 10-2 (43-9-1)
	EM MAJOR	7:00 PM	BARTLETT	L 2-5 (43-10-1)
6	MID SOUTH GAMERS	11:00 AM	BARTLETT	L 3-9 (43-11-1)
	KENTUCKY PROSPECTS	2:00 PM	HOUSTON HS	L 0-4 (43-12-1)
10	STATION CAMP HS	5:30 DH	STATION CAMP HS	L 2-9, 2-6 (43-14-1)
15	GALLATIN HS	5:30 DH	DRAKES CREEK #3	W 4-3, T 4-4 (44-14-2)
18-26	PERFECT GAME 14U WWBA		ATLANTA, GA
19	HOUSTON BANDITOS SANTOS	12:45 PM	LAKEPOINT #9	L 1-9 (44-15-2)
20	ORLANDO BASEALL TEAM	2:00 PM	EAST COBB #3	T 3-3 (44-15-3)
21	GEORGIA JACKETS	11:30 AM	EAST COBB #1	L 5-7 (44-16-3)
	6-4-3 DP COUGARS	5:15 PM	LAKEPOINT #16	L 2-3 (44-17-3)
23	CLUTCH PERFORMANCE	10:15 AM	LAKEOINT #14	L 0-3 (44-18-3)
24	CHATTANOOGA REBELS	12:45 PM	LAKEPOINT #16	L 3-4 (44-19-3)
24	TEAM ELITE SOUTH GA	3:00 PM	LAKEPOINT #16	T 6=6 (44-19-4)
JULY
1-5	SANDLOTTER 14U WOOD BAT WS		NASHVILLE, TN
2	TN PROSPECTS	10:00 AM	SHELBY PARK #1	WHITE/GOLD/BLACK
	6-4-3 DP JAGUARS	5:00 PM	SHELBY PARK #1
3	CINCINNATI CRUSH	3:00 PM	SHELBY PARK #2	GREY/BLACK/CAMO
4	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
5	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
8-12	SANDLOTTER 15U WOOD BAT WS*		NASHVILLE, TN
8
9
10
11
12
16-19	USA CLASSIC JV		MILLINGTON TN
16
17
18
19

Article by Craig Harris (Gallatin News Examiner) 

HENDERSONVILLE – The Hendersonville High School baseball team was limited to three hits in Friday evening's Class AAA sectional contest against visiting Centennial.

However, the Commandos made the most of those, and junior pitcher Grant Williams handled the rest as Hendersonville reached the Class AAA State Tournament with a 3-1 victory at Drakes Creek Park.

"Last year, we played well," Hendersonville senior leftfielder Braden Schwerdt said. "We just didn't perform in the postseason. This year, we believed we could do it. We went out and did it.

"We made it to our goal of getting to the state tournament. Now, our goal is to win it."

It will be the program's fifth appearance in the state tournament, also advancing to that point in 1994, 1999, 2000 and 2003.

"It's very hard," Commando 25^th-year head coach Mike Hendrix said of reaching the state. "It's been 12 years (since the last trip). If somebody tells you it's easy, it's not. You have to have good players. You have to have good kids, and they have to come through at the right time."

Schwerdt added, "We've had so much fun this year, definitely in the postseason. We've played loose. We've had fun. I'm glad we're there. We've been looking forward to this for two years."

Schwerdt and his nine classmates on the team missed graduation at Hendersonville High School due to Friday's game.

The Hendersonville High administration conducted a ceremony on the field for the baseball seniors as they donned their graduation caps and gowns and were given their diplomas, with that ceremony starting approximately three hours after the bigger one across the street earlier in the evening.

"Driving over to batting practice, I saw everyone going to graduation," Schwerdt said. "It hit me that I wasn't going to be there, but this is where we wanted to be at the beginning of the year.

"We enjoyed the ceremony. It was fun."

Williams picked up his fourth win of the postseason, all of which have come over a 15-day stretch.

A leadoff double by senior Jake Lyle and a two-out single off of the bat of senior Billy Lowe gave the Cougars a first-inning run, but Williams allowed just two hits over the final six innings.

"My stuff wasn't working like it has been, but it was good enough to get the job done," Williams said. "They are all good hitters and tough outs. It makes you work a lot harder.

"I knew they were looking for a first-pitch fastball every time and a curveball (with counts of) 0-1 or 0-2."

Williams (9-1) issued one base on balls and struck out five hitters, throwing 115 pitches.

"Grant probably left a lot more over the plate than the other kid (Centennial senior left-hander Adam Mancour) did, but he goes out and guts it out for seven innings," Hendrix said. "He did a great job. Their kid did a great job. He kept our kids off balance."

In 25 innings this postseason, Williams has allowed just 12 hits and three walks while striking out 21 hitters.

"Before the postseason, I didn't come into any games nervous," Williams said. "The last three games, there have been butterflies.

"It's a lot more intense. It makes it a lot more fun. When you have a guy like (Centennial senior second baseman) Deon Sanders out there … he can hit a ball 450 feet."

The Commandos took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, with senior Austin Brown drawing a one-out walk and then junior Cooper Brenning reaching first base thanks to a two-out base on balls. Both baserunners moved up on a wild pitch, and Schwerdt laced a 2-2 pitch up the middle to drive in Brown and junior courtesy runner Jon Swindle.

"With two outs, you can't just hit (a fly ball) to the outfield," Schwerdt said. "He threw me a fastball, and I fouled it back. He fooled me with a change-up in the dirt. Then, he threw me another fastball. I took a level cut, and it slid up the middle."

Hendrix added, "We're fortunate that Schwerdt comes up as the eight hitter (in the batting order) and has a great at-bat and puts us up 2-1. That's the way it's been all year, somebody at the bottom of the order picking people up. A base hit in that situation couldn't happen to a better kid."

Williams led off the fourth inning with a single to centerfield, and Brown reached thanks to a catcher's interference call. Both baserunners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by senior Jarcques Wordlaw, and junior courtesy runner Aris Welden scored the game's final run on a wild pitch.

Brenning drew another walk moments later, and a wild pitch left two runners in scoring position. However, Mancour (8-1) escaped the jam thanks to a lineout and a groundout.

Sanders reached on an infield single in the sixth inning and stole second base with no outs. However, he was retired when he was caught in a rundown following a ground ball back to Williams.

Williams issued a one-out walk to senior Trevor Sigmon in the top of the seventh and threw two balls to junior Christian Blackwell before battling back to have a full count. Blackwell grounded a ball to senior second baseman Drew Richard, who flipped to senior shortstop Justin Long for a forceout.

Sigmon made a wide slide into second base, and though Long didn't throw on to first base in an attempt to complete the double play, one of the umpires ruled Blackwell out as well due to baserunner's interference.

The game-ending call prompted the players to hesitate before beginning their celebration, which included a dog-pile behind the pitcher's mound.

"(The low score) didn't surprise me," Cougar 12^th-year head coach Rob Baughman – whose program reached the state tournament in 2013 – said. "I know what our kids are about. There was no doubt that we were going to come here and give them a battle.

"It's a dirty shame that's the way the game had to end."

Hendersonville (33-11) will open play in the eight-team Class AA State Tournament on Tuesday. There will be two four-team brackets, one played at Oakland High and another at Siegel High. The blind draw for the double-elimination tournament is expected to take place on Sunday.

"I'm so proud of these guys," Hendrix – whose squad equaled a school record for single-season wins (also in 2003) with Friday's win – said. "They've worked so hard since they came in as freshmen. They've gotten a lot better. They deserve it.

"I think they will do a good job. They will handle the situation. We'll talk to them about what we can and can't do. You don't who you're going to get (matched up against). You just have to battle, do what you can and hope for the best."

Schwerdt and his classmates planned to celebrate both the state berth and graduation later on Friday night.

"We have a couple of graduation parties to go to," Schwerdt said. "It's just being together. We'll focus on baseball (later in the weekend), and we'll have some fun.

"You're a top-eight (team) in the state. Hopefully, there will be a big crowd there. It will be fun."

Sports reporter Craig Harris can be contacted at 575-7138.

 

Centennial 100 000 0 – 1 4 0

Hendersonville 020 100 x – 3 3 1

Adam Mancour and Billy Lowe; Grant Williams and Cooper Brenning. WP – Williams (9-1). LP – Mancour (8-1). Records: Centennial 27-9, Hendersonville 33-11.