HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Calloway, John Battle Stand Tall

BRISTOL, Va. — Standing outside the visitor’s dugout after Friday night’s Clinch Mountain District baseball showdown between John Battle and Virginia High, Battle third baseman Cody Calloway — a four-year starter — reflected on the much anticipated contest.

“This is probably the biggest game I’ve ever played in during high school,” Calloway said. “It was a good atmosphere … a playoff atmosphere.”

Calloway and his teammates thrived in the atmosphere and left DeVault Stadium with smiles as Battle claimed a 6-2 victory over Virginia High in front of a capacity crowd.

The Trojans (15-4, 7-1) clinched the inaugural CMD regular-season title and also earned an automatic bid to the Region D tournament.

It completed an impressive run through the CMD for Battle, whose lone district blemish was a 4-3 setback to Gate City on April 25. With an ultra-competitive district and with the showdown with VHS looming, Battle answered all the challenges.

“Of course, I may be a little biased, but I think it’s the best district in our region by far,” Battle coach Larry Cannon said. “From top to bottom … You have to come to play every day. We’re fortunate and thankful, we came away as the first Clinch Mountain District baseball champion.

“That’s something they will not be able to take away.”

Battle set the tone early on Friday, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning via a RBI single by Jerry Jones and Calloway’s RBI groundout.

That was enough support for Battle starter Joseph Timp. The Trojans’ ace struck out eight, scattered six hits, induced 11 groundball outs and came within an out of a shutout.

“Anytime you can get runs early in the game, it helps relieve a lot of pressure on you,” Timp said. “Every high school kid plays to be in a big-game situation. I love these games and going against a good team like Virginia High.”

Battle also knew how important a victory was in Friday’s game.

Last season when they were a member of the Hogoheegee District, the Trojans entered the final game of the regular season needing a win over Chilhowie to clinch the district crown.

Battle suffered a 1-0 loss and two days later lost again to the Warriors in a one-game playoff. The Trojans weren’t looking for a repeat.

“We talked about it as a team,” Calloway said. “We didn’t want to go back to last year. We wanted to win this game and not have to play a playoff game.”

Calloway singled and scored on Taryn Hayden’s RBI single in the sixth to push the Battle lead to 3-0. The Trojans then put the game away with a three-run seventh that was aided by a pair of VHS errors.

It was a prevailing theme for Virginia High (9-11, 5-3), which committed five errors.

“The better team won tonight,” VHS coach Mark Daniels said. “There early, we squandered some opportunities that could have gotten us back in the game and got a little momentum … Hopefully, we can clean some things up and polish and get ready for tournament time. When it comes to this time of the year, if you can’t catch and throw it, you’re not going to be playing long.”

Kalen Mabe and Josh Murray each had two hits for the Bearcats, while starting pitcher Robbie Stout threw well and picked off four Battle baserunners. VHS scored two runs and loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Timp closed the door and clinched the title for Battle.

Leadoff hitter Josh Osborne reached base all four times for the victors, collecting two singles, two walks, three stolen bases and scoring twice. Hayden also had two hits.

“We just worked our butts off and got it done,” Calloway said.

John Battle 200 001 3—6 8 3
Virginia High 000 000 2—2 6 5
Timp and Jones. Stout and Arnold. W—Timp. L—Arnold. HR—none. JV game — Virginia High 4, John Battle 1.

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