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After winning the early game to force a winner-take-all affair to go to state against Farragut on Thursday, the Tribe ultimately ran out of gas, falling 7-3.

“They did a great job,� D-B head coach Ryan Wagner said. “We had good senior leadership. Our seniors stepped up at the end. We obviously had a lot of kids that are not seniors that play a lot and have experience and do really good things for us. But I feel like you end up only going as far as your seniors take you.�

The Admirals (28-11) struck first in the decisive game, getting a massive three-run homer from Owen Stelzer to left field. They tacked on single runs in the third and fourth, each on an RBI single to make the game 5-0.

However, just as they had all postseason long, D-B (31-10) fought back.

Both Cam Hayworth and Taylor Blankenship roped run-scoring singles into the outfield to cut the deficit to three in the fifth inning. Those singles proved to be each batter’s lone hit of the game, but they were big ones.

After allowing one run in the top of the sixth, the Indians got it back in their half of the frame. Andrew Reilly came through with an RBI double down the right field line, making it 6-3.

The southpaw played big for the Indians on both sides of the ball, getting two hits and getting four outs on the mound in relief.

“He had a big night for us,� Wagner said. “He hit the ball really well, along with a lot of other guys. Came in and battled on the mound. Got a little tired there and got out of the zone. But, I’m proud of him, and like I said, I’m proud of all our seniors.�

Farragut added on a run in the top of the seventh on a safety squeeze play, and the Indians went down in order to end the contest.

The win sends the Admirals back to Murfreesboro, where they will be looking for their fourth state championship in a row. They haven’t missed a season-ending trip to the mid state since 2018.

Meanwhile, the Indians made their deepest postseason run since their 2017 state tournament appearance. In that season, they won their most recent region championship until this year.

“This loss and this game right here doesn’t say anything,� Wagner said. “Those battles and wars we had to get us to this point (do). I’m proud of them for getting it done. We had a lot of seniors get some hits tonight, too. Make plays and everything. But really looking forward to our guys coming back. I think we’ve got a good nucleus and these seniors have led them in the right way.�

Game Two: Dobyns-Bennett 10, Farragut 3

The Indians flipped the script on the Admirals to start Thursday, posting 10 runs after surrendering 10 during Game One on Wednesday.

D-B broke the game open in the third inning, posting a five-spot in the frame. Graham Jones and Cam Hayworth each hit one-run singles with one out, then Taylor Blankenship followed it up with a sacrifice fly.

The biggest blow, though, was a two-out, two-run home run off the bat of Charlie Schuman that just went off the top of the right field fence and into the trees.

They weren’t done adding on yet, though. In the fourth inning, Andrew Reilly went down the left field line for a grand slam following three straight Tribe singles. On top of his first-inning sacrifice fly, the lefty hitter drove in five of the Indians’ 10 runs.

Farragut was in danger of getting run-ruled, trailing 10-0 in the fifth. However, Owen Stelzer cleared the left field wall for a two-run home run to put the Admirals on the board.

Travis Brummitt Jr. hit an RBI groundout to plate one more in the sixth, but that was all the damage Hayworth let in on the mound. The Virginia Tech commit surrendered just three hits and three walks while punching out seven in a complete-game effort.

Jones was the lone hitter on either side to get multiple hits, as he went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

Up Next

Farragut will head to Murfreesboro to participate in the state tournament on Tuesday, where they will take on either Beech or Independence in the first round. Their sectional series will be completed on Friday.