BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

Tug Valley battled through a dramatic run in the Class A Region 4 Baseball Tournament with a walk-off victory over Calhoun County, a no-hit mercy-rule win over Van and two heartbreakers against Man. The Panthers bowed out Friday with a 9-6 loss to Man, finishing the year 18-18 and matching one of the best records in program history.

Man 9, Tug Valley 6

The Panthers fell to Man 9-6 in a Class A Region 4 Tournament elimination game Friday at Mullins Field in Man.

Panthers Coach LeeAnn Blankenship saw her team finish with an 18-18 overall record and 2-2 in the regional tourney. The 18-win record is one of the best in Tug Valley history.

“What a season,” Blankenship said. “This group battled every single day and gave all they had until the final out tonight in the Region 4 Tournament game against Man. While this ending hurts, nothing can take away what these players accomplished together this season. They played 36 games (finishing 18-18) and made many wonderful memories.”

Tug Valley lost despite out-hitting Man 8-5.

Darian Vance led the Panthers with three hits.

Parker Smith stepped on the mound first for Tug Valley. The hurler gave up three hits and six runs (five earned) over 4-2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking seven.

Noah Maynor started on the hill for the Man. The starter gave up eight hits and six runs (three earned) over 6-2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking five.

Landon Cantrell, Maynor, Noah Frazier, Caleb Brown and Brody Sword each collected one hit for Man.

The Hillbillies are 14-16 and advance.

Tug’s .500 record is the best so far in the 2020s.

Tug Valley 4, Calhoun County 3

Tug Valley took Thursday’s Class A Region 4 Baseball Tournament game in dramatic fashion with a 4-3 walk-off victory over visiting Calhoun in Naugatuck.

The game, played on a wet field due to the rain, was tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth when an error scored the winning run.

Behind 2-0, Panther Gavin Fitzpatrick doubled, which helped Tug Valley tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third.

A single by Darian Vance gave the Panthers the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fifth.

Cooper Morris doubled to center field, which helped the Red Devils tie the game at 3-all in the top of the seventh.

Chandler Copley pitched 6-1/3 innings in relief for Tug Valley. The pitcher surrendered five hits and one run while striking out 14 and walking two.

Gage Whitt stepped on the bump first for Tug Valley. The starting pitcher surrendered three hits and two runs over 2-2/3 innings, striking out four and walking none.

Reese Schoolcraft began the game for Calhoun County. He allowed seven hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out eight and walking one.

Tug Valley collected nine hits in the game. Parker Kelly, Tug Valley’s No. 8 hitter, led the team with three hits. Dawson Richardson collected two hits.

Fitzpatrick, Copley and Vance each drove in one run for TV.

Leadoff hitter Chase Schoolcraft led the Red Devils with three hits.

Tug Valley 15, Van 0

Tug Valley bounced back May 20 from a loss the previous night at Man by mercy ruling No. 10 seed Van 15-0 at Don Spence Field in Naugatuck.

The No. 6-seeded Panthers improved to 17-17 overall and 1-1 in the double-elimination Class A Region 4 tourney. This is one of the winningest seasons in Tug Valley baseball history.

The Panthers erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth to end the game early. Young pitchers Chandler Copley and Parker Smith combined to toss a no-hitter.

Copley was the starter and winner, going 1-1/3 innings and giving up no runs on no hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Smith fired the last 2-2/3 innings of scoreless and hitless ball, fanning seven and walking one.

The Panthers had seven hits in the game and took advantage of 10 errors by the Bulldogs.

Gage Whitt led the way for Tug Valley as he was 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple and three RBIs.

Dawson Richardson and Copley each had a double and knocked in three runs. Gavin Fitzpatrick had a triple and three runs knocked in. Parker Kelly clubbed a double and had a pair of RBIs.

Man 5, Tug Valley 4

Man edged Tug Valley 5-4 in the Class A Region 4 Baseball Tournament opening game May 19 at Man.

The Hillbillies won the close game in the bottom of the seventh inning on Grayson Sanders’ walk-off RBI single.

No. 3 seed Man improved to 13-15, advancing to face No. 2 Gilmer County (25-5) in the winners bracket.