Vikings Clinch Third Straight Upper Lakes Conference Title With Win at Crockett
Lather, rinse, threepeat – Tennessee High’s baseball team seems to be head and shoulders above the rest of the Upper Lakes Conference.
On Monday the Vikings clinched their third straight league title since joining the league with a 14-1 romp at David Crockett.
Right-hander Kaleb Feathers pitched five shutout innings to improve to 6-0 and Preston Feagins went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run as the Vikings improved to 9-0 in the league and 19-4 overall.
“They took advantage of some opportunities and they’re well coached, they always are,” said Crockett coach Spencer Street, whose Pioneers fell to 4-4 in the league and 13-9 overall. “They did the little things well and we didn’t. We had a couple of chances early, couldn’t get that extra hit and it got away from us quickly.”
Feathers walked two and allowed two hits while striking out five. One of the hits he allowed was a bloop single.
“I had a really good feel for the slider,” Feathers said. “The changeup, at times, came out of the hand a little wrong. But other than that, I was able to control all three of ‘em really well.
“My last start against Elizabethton I allowed six runs. I was a little shaky. I couldn’t really control the slider. I walked, I think, five people. I came out here today and I just had to believe in myself. At the beginning of the season, it was like this almost every game.”
Feathers credited pitching coach Brad Morelock, who essentially said to have a short memory after the Elizabethton outing.
“I love him to death – all four years I’ve been here,” Feathers said. “I wouldn’t be the pitcher I am today without him. He’s like a second father to us. If we ever need anything he’d be the first coach I call. He loves talking to us, pulling us to the side. You can talk about life with him. He’s just a great mentor.”
The Vikings program has become a well-oiled machine with manager Preston Roberts, assistant coach Adam Cross and Morelock.
“We had close ballgames a couple of weeks ago that we found a way to win,” Roberts said. “It’s hard. This is a very, very competitive conference. …
“Kaleb Feathers on the mound – just really proud of him. Proud of the defense for the most part. I’m really proud of our at-bats. We’re just doing the little things right. We ran the bases really well.”
Feagins, a sturdy-built sophomore, has been slowed much of the season by a sore Achilles tendon. He looked like Achilles when he teed off on a first-pitch fastball with two on and one out in the fourth inning.
Feagins’ three-run blast to left-center gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead. The rout was on.
“I knew it off the bat,” Feathers said. “He’s had a hot bat all year. And he’s a big boy.”
Bryson Hutton went 3-for-5 with three runs and three steals for Tennessee High. Ashton Leonard scored three runs, drove in two others and tallied a hit and a walk.
Shortstop Gage Graziano delivered a hard-hit double and a bloop double, and he made a difficult catch after lunging to his left for A.J. Ford’s liner.
Chandler Myers walked three times and was hit by two pitches. Cainan Meyers, half of the Vikings’ two-headed ace, pitched the final two innings. He struck out four and would’ve faced the minimum if not for a bad-hop single by Nolan Street, who stole second, advanced to third on a ground-out and scored on Ron Hall’s sacrifice fly.
“They pound the strike zone and their defense plays pretty well,” Street said. “They have really good outfield play. … I felt like they did a good job keeping us off balance with Feathers mixing in the breaking ball, and I didn’t love our approach at the plate.
“But it happens. It stinks it’s in a conference game, but we get to come out and try again tomorrow.”
Crockett will host Unicoi on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Vikings, which have won five straight and 10 of their last 11, will visit University High at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
Tennessee High – Kaleb Feathers, Cainan Meyers (6) and Cainan Meyers, Tripp Lively (6). David Crockett – Connor Hendrix, Mason Grindstaff (5), Ronnie Hall and Jackson Whaley. W – Kaleb Feathers 6-0, L - Connor Hendrix. HR - Preston Feagins, Tennessee High (two on in 4th). RBI - Tennessee High 9 (Preston Feagins 3, Ashton Leonard 2, Gage Graziano, Isaac Blevins, Chandler Myers, Josh Sizemore), David Crockett 1 (Ronnie Hall). SAC – Ronnie Hall, David Crockett. SB - Bryson Hutton, Tennessee High; Nolan Street, David Crockett.
On Monday the Vikings clinched their third straight league title since joining the league with a 14-1 romp at David Crockett.
Right-hander Kaleb Feathers pitched five shutout innings to improve to 6-0 and Preston Feagins went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run as the Vikings improved to 9-0 in the league and 19-4 overall.
“They took advantage of some opportunities and they’re well coached, they always are,” said Crockett coach Spencer Street, whose Pioneers fell to 4-4 in the league and 13-9 overall. “They did the little things well and we didn’t. We had a couple of chances early, couldn’t get that extra hit and it got away from us quickly.”
Feathers walked two and allowed two hits while striking out five. One of the hits he allowed was a bloop single.
“I had a really good feel for the slider,” Feathers said. “The changeup, at times, came out of the hand a little wrong. But other than that, I was able to control all three of ‘em really well.
“My last start against Elizabethton I allowed six runs. I was a little shaky. I couldn’t really control the slider. I walked, I think, five people. I came out here today and I just had to believe in myself. At the beginning of the season, it was like this almost every game.”
Feathers credited pitching coach Brad Morelock, who essentially said to have a short memory after the Elizabethton outing.
“I love him to death – all four years I’ve been here,” Feathers said. “I wouldn’t be the pitcher I am today without him. He’s like a second father to us. If we ever need anything he’d be the first coach I call. He loves talking to us, pulling us to the side. You can talk about life with him. He’s just a great mentor.”
The Vikings program has become a well-oiled machine with manager Preston Roberts, assistant coach Adam Cross and Morelock.
“We had close ballgames a couple of weeks ago that we found a way to win,” Roberts said. “It’s hard. This is a very, very competitive conference. …
“Kaleb Feathers on the mound – just really proud of him. Proud of the defense for the most part. I’m really proud of our at-bats. We’re just doing the little things right. We ran the bases really well.”
Feagins, a sturdy-built sophomore, has been slowed much of the season by a sore Achilles tendon. He looked like Achilles when he teed off on a first-pitch fastball with two on and one out in the fourth inning.
Feagins’ three-run blast to left-center gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead. The rout was on.
“I knew it off the bat,” Feathers said. “He’s had a hot bat all year. And he’s a big boy.”
Bryson Hutton went 3-for-5 with three runs and three steals for Tennessee High. Ashton Leonard scored three runs, drove in two others and tallied a hit and a walk.
Shortstop Gage Graziano delivered a hard-hit double and a bloop double, and he made a difficult catch after lunging to his left for A.J. Ford’s liner.
Chandler Myers walked three times and was hit by two pitches. Cainan Meyers, half of the Vikings’ two-headed ace, pitched the final two innings. He struck out four and would’ve faced the minimum if not for a bad-hop single by Nolan Street, who stole second, advanced to third on a ground-out and scored on Ron Hall’s sacrifice fly.
“They pound the strike zone and their defense plays pretty well,” Street said. “They have really good outfield play. … I felt like they did a good job keeping us off balance with Feathers mixing in the breaking ball, and I didn’t love our approach at the plate.
“But it happens. It stinks it’s in a conference game, but we get to come out and try again tomorrow.”
Crockett will host Unicoi on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Vikings, which have won five straight and 10 of their last 11, will visit University High at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
Tennessee High | 112 | 400 | 6 | -- | 14 | 10 | 2 |
Alcoa | 000 | 000 | 1 | -- | 1 | 3 | 12 |
Tennessee High – Kaleb Feathers, Cainan Meyers (6) and Cainan Meyers, Tripp Lively (6). David Crockett – Connor Hendrix, Mason Grindstaff (5), Ronnie Hall and Jackson Whaley. W – Kaleb Feathers 6-0, L - Connor Hendrix. HR - Preston Feagins, Tennessee High (two on in 4th). RBI - Tennessee High 9 (Preston Feagins 3, Ashton Leonard 2, Gage Graziano, Isaac Blevins, Chandler Myers, Josh Sizemore), David Crockett 1 (Ronnie Hall). SAC – Ronnie Hall, David Crockett. SB - Bryson Hutton, Tennessee High; Nolan Street, David Crockett.
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