Allen Earl
GREENEVILLE — The Cumberland Gap Panthers saw their season come to an end on Friday with a 4-1 loss to South Greene in the first round of the District 2-AA Tournament at Tusculum College.
Cumberland Gap went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Brad Fleeman led off with a single and adavnced on a passed ball. One out later, Joe Gidens singled to left put runners at the corners and stole second. Hunter Bayless followed with a base hit to right that scored Fleeman. Gidens was thrown out also trying to score on the play.
The Rebels answered by scoring four unearned runs in the top of the fourth. Todd Neas led off by reaching on an error. One out later, Daniel Lowery walked and Ben Seaton followed with an RBI single to left to tie the game. With two down, Caleb Shaw walked to load the bases and Lowery scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Justin Casteel added a two-run single to center to make it 4-1.
That was all Seaton needed as he held the Panthers off the board from there. Seaton went all seven inings and gave up just the one run on four hits while striking out four and walking two to earn the win.
Nathn Hatmaker took the loss for Cumberland Gap. The senior worked the first 3-2/3 innings and allowed four unearned runs on three hits while walking ten and striking out six. Matt Wade pitched the final 3-1/3 and held South Greene to just two hits while striking out one.
“Walks, walks, walks. That’s what hurt us today and the lack of a timely hit,” said Panther coach Nick Huckaby. “Still, I am proud of the team this year. They improved throughout the season despite some adversity. We had good senior leadership and the younger guys like Bayless and (Gavin) Burns have all improved tenfold. Even though the season is over this game doesn’t take away from what this team accomplished this year.”
Brandon Bailey walked in the second and singled in the fourth, Wade reached on an error in the fifth and Jake Elliott walked in the seventh to account for other Panther base runners in the game.
With the loss, Cumberland Gap finishes 2013 with a record of 14-12. South Greene (8-14) advanced on to the double-elimination part of the tournament.
— — —
South Greene…000 400 0 — 4 5 1
Cumb. Gap…….001 000 0 — 1 4 1
Ben Seaton and Logan Tweed; Nathan Hatmker, Matt Wade (4) and Brandon Bailey. W-Seaton. L-Hatmaker.
Claiborne Progress|Civitas Media, LLC. aearl@civitasmedia.com
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