BY ANTHONY STEVENS
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
CASTLEWOOD, Va. — It isn’t often a sixth-seed climbs to the tournament championship game. Twin Springs not only made the title game, but is now the Cumberland District tournament champion. Sophomore lefthander Kris Jordan pitched the Titans by Castlewood 4-1 on Friday.
“Jordan kept them off-balance,” first-year TS head coach Mike Castle said. “I’m glad to have him back two more years, I think he has a great future.”
The present wasn’t too bad either. Jordan finished with nine strikeouts and held Castlewood to only four hits.
“This is the best I’ve pitched,” said Jordan. “I felt real comfortable. I knew the defense had my back. I just kept the fastball on the outside corner and the defense did the rest.”
The lone run for the Blue Devils came in the second inning. Corey Davis reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second and third. Davis came home on an infield single by Jon Byerley. Castlewood didn’t get a runner past second base from that point.
Twin Springs scored first with three straight hits in the first inning by Evan Adams, Matt Mullins and then a single that bounced off the second base bag to score Michael Salyer.
After the run by Castlewood tied the game The Titans took the lead for good in the third. Speedster Aaron McCoy singled and then advanced all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Trevor Criswell. McCoy scored when Mullins reached on an error.
Castlewood pitcher Casey Phillips pitched out of a jam in fifth with runners on second and third with only one out without allowing a run to score.
After a walk to Jordan in the seventh, Criswell lined a single up the middle for the Titans final run.
After the Titans ended the regular season with a tough loss on the road to St. Paul, Twin Springs defeated the top three teams in the regular season CD standings in the tourney.
“After the St. Paul game the team decided that we’re going to play,” said Castle. “We’ve played three good baseball games so hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.”
Twin Springs (13-9) will face a tough game when they travel to John Battle on Tuesday in the opening round of the Region D tournament.
“John Battle has always had a tradition rich program,” Castle said. “Baseball is their sport. We’ll have to play the best game we’ve played. If you have a lot of errors you’ll be down to them real quick.”
Castlewood (13-7) will host Gate City in the regional on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Twin Springs 101 001 1–4 7 1
Castlewood 010 000 0–1 4 1
Jordan, Meade (7) and Salyer. C. Phillips and Byerley. W—Jordan (4-1). L—C. Phillips (3-4). S—Meade (2). HR—none.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement