BY TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier
After rolling through the Lonesome Pine District without a blemish, crunch time has arrived for the J.J. Kelly High School baseball team.
“We’ve been preparing for it for a long time,” Kelly pitcher Zak Sturgill said.
The Indians (19-3) begin defense of their Region D title on Tuesday when they host Black Diamond District runner-up Haysi at 6 p.m. in a first-round game.
Many people are looking forward to a possible J.J. Kelly-John Battle matchup in the regional tournament semifinals. However, both teams must get by quarterfinal games on Tuesday.
The Indians enter with plenty of momentum.
Kelly put on a hitting display en route to winning the Lonesome Pine District tournament, scoring 27 runs in their two games.
Eight regulars are hitting over .300 for Kelly, led by Cody Bentley (.486), Matt Dotson (.466) and Zack Clifton (.419).
“It’s phenomenal,” Sturgill said of his run support. “I wouldn’t trade these guys for anybody, anywhere else.”
Then there’s Sturgill, who once again has anchored the Indians’ pitching staff.
Relying on an arsenal that includes a nasty curveball, Sturgill is 6-2 with a 1.04 ERA. In 40 1/3 innings, he’s allowed just 21 hits, walked 15 and notched 56 strikeouts.
“I think I’ve been pretty consistent,” Sturgill said. “I’m working on getting better each day I go out there.”
Sturgill has compiled a 15-2 record over the last two seasons and has got the starting nod in a number of big games. He’ll look to live up to his reputation as a big-game pitcher again this week.
“I feel like we’re playing well and getting better each game,” Sturgill said.
Regional baseball tournaments in Southwest Virginia actually get underway today as Tazewell travels to Magna Vista and Blacksburg hosts Carroll County in the Region IV tournament.
The Region C and Region D tourneys begin Tuesday.
thayes@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2570
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