It was all Southern Standard in Tuesday night’s first semifinal game since the team finished the regular season in first place in the junior league.
The aggressive base running by Southern Standard put a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense of TN Credit. Not being able to find an answer for the constant stolen bases by Southern Standard, all TN Credit could do is watch the defense implode. Southern Standard defeated TN Credit by a final score of 16-1.
In the top of the first TN Credit started with a strikeout, but Parker Smith and J.J. Jacobs were the only to base runners for TN Credit and both were left stranded after Southern Standard knocked down the next two batters with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Southern Standard opened up in the bottom of the first and attempted to set the tone for the entire game. Back-to-back walks allowed Alex Castaneda and Matthew Colangione to reach first base. Peyton Adams delivered a huge hit for Southern Standard and scored both base runners for an early 2-0 lead. Chase Newby also made his way around the base pads after a base hit to center field and Adams scored for a 3-0 lead. With no outs Newby picked his way through the bases and he stole home and made it 4-0.
Three strikeouts in the middle of the lineup ended the inning for Southern Standard.
In the top of the second, TN Credit was retired in order. Two of the outs were by way of strikeouts. The score remained 4-0.
In the bottom half of the second, Southern Standard led off the inning with a walk by William Gillespie. Blaine Gilley also reached base on balls after a strikeout for the first out of the inning. Castaneda smashed a pitch into the gap in the outfield and both runners on base got the green light to advance home for a 6-0 lead. Colangione drew a walk to reach first base. With two on base, Adams crushed a pitch deep down the third-base line and two more runs crossed for Southern Standard for an 8-0 score. Two outs followed to end the Sothern Standard momentum.
It was the top of the third inning and Parker Smith for TN Credit reached first base on balls. Jacobs and Matthew Key reached base on balls, Smith scored to make it an 8-1 game. It would be the only run of the inning for TN Credit.
In the bottom half of the third, the Southern Standard offense opened up. Eight more runs crossed the plate and Southern Standard took a commanding 16-1 lead. Owen Clark started the inning off with a base hit. Four consecutive walks to Dylan Stepp, Gillespie, Leo Castanedo, and Gilley scored Clark and Stepp. Southern Standard was back at the top of the lineup.
Castaneda and Colangione pounded out back-to-back extra-base hits. Adams dealt another crushing blow with a hit, his third of the game. The TN Credit defense was missing ground balls and making throws that were not finding their mark. Newby would be the final run for Southern Standard before the final out.
TN Credit needed runs in the top of the fourth if it wanted to keep the game going. Noah Murphy was the only player to reach base and he advanced over to third base on two ground balls for outs one and two. The final out was made when Murphy was given the green light and attempted to make it home with no such luck.
Southern Standard defeated TN Credit with a convincing 16-1 win. Southern Standard will advance and play in the championship game tonight at 5:30 p.m. versus Hover & Son Insurance.