Smith County 5
Columbia American 2
On July 18th, the lone team left of the Smith County All Stars, headed to GM Field in Spring Hill, Tennessee to face off with the Columbia American All Stars in the opening round of the 2015 Junior League State Tournament. With a heat index of nearly 106 degrees, the SC Juniors would look to stay hot and start their post season run with a win.
Columbia American took advantage of some early game jitters as they pushed across an early run to take a 1-0 lead to the second. In the second, Smith County got things going as they tied the contest after Hunter Mann reached on a fielder’s choice and Nate Johnson was hit by a pitch, when Levi Halliburton produced a 2-RBI single to left field to put the Big Orange in front 2-1. The SC Juniors would then capitalize again in the third after Eli Martin led off the inning with a single, as Kolby Sloan drove in Martin with a ground out to shortstop to push the lead to 3-1. They then capitalized in the fourth as Jim Anstis reached on an error, then was bunted over by Hunter Mann and drove in on a squeeze bunt by Lawson Underwood to make it 4-1, Big Orange. In the fifth, Smith County once again pushed across a run after Dylan Hackett walked and moved to third on a steal and a beautiful sacrifice bunt laid down by Eli Martin. Matthew Enoch then picked up the RBI through a sacrifice fly to CF to make it 5-1. Columbia American tried to fight back in the sixth, but Hunter Mann battled through and kept it 5-2 as Smith County went on to win their opener.
Smith County hurler Hunter Mann picked up the win, working 4-1/3 innings, striking out five in relief of starter Eli Martin who struggled with command in the first, but worked a solid 1-2/3 innings. Jim Anstis came on to lock down the game in the seventh.
Smith County struggled offensively, but played a solid fundamental game of baseball. They were led by Eli Martin, Matthew Enoch, and Levi Halliburton who each had one hit. With the win, Smith County moved on to face Goodlettsville in the nightcap game of opening day action.
WP- Hunter Mann (SC) LP- Hooper (CA)
Goodlettsville 21
Smith County 2
After the sun finally went down, Smith County met the Goodlettsville All Stars in the nightcap game of the opening round of action on July 18th. Smith County knew coming in that they would have their hands full as they played the 2012 Little League United States Champions.
Goodlettsville boasted this title as they poured on the runs early and often in this one as Smith County looked to save pitching. Goodlettsville pushed across nine in the first on seven hits and two walks to take an early 9-0 lead. They then pushed across two more in the third on two hits and two walks to make 11-0. Smith County finally got on the board in their half of the fourth as they pushed across two runs on a single by Campbell Gregory and two errors by Goodlettsville. Goodlettsville then piled on 10 more in their half of the fourth with six hits and four walks to cruise to the 21-2 mercy rule victory.
Smith County was mesmerized by Goodlettsville as they never seemed to get anything going in the contest. Goodlettsville compiled 15 hits in the contest while the SC Juniors managed only three. Smith County was led by Matthew Enoch, Barrett Briggs, and Campbell Gregory who each had one hit. Smith County was sent to the loser’s bracket elimination game on Sunday morning where they would play Clarksville Northwest.
WP- Cummings (GV) LP- Campbell Gregory (SC)
Smith County 12
Clarksville NW 1
After a very rough first day of action, the Smith County Junior League All Stars started their journey back through the loser’s bracket on Sunday, July 19th, versus Clarksville Northwest. Smith County managed only six hits in two games on Saturday, the offense picked up the pace on Sunday with their backs against the wall.
Smith County jumped all over Northwest in the third inning. They posted eight runs on five hits and three walks. The biggest blow of the inning came with nobody out and Dylan Hackett at the plate with the bases loaded. Hackett laid down a beautiful bunt then beat the throw out to make it 1-0 SC. Eli Martin then came to the plate and laid another bunt down and scored one on a throwing error to make it 2-0. After the Martin bunt, Matthew Enoch came to the plate and doubled to right clearing the bases making it 5-0, and the Big Orange went on to push across three more to take an 8-0 lead to the fourth. Smith County struck again in the fourth pushing across four runs on five hits and a sacrifice. From there on, Smith County coasted behind its strong pitching to a 12-1 mercy rule victory.
Smith County hurlers Barrett Briggs, Levi Halliburton, and Jim Anstis all had solid outings in the contest. Halliburton picked up the win working two innings of relief while allowing only one run.
The Smith County offensive attack was paced by 11 hits in the contest. Dylan Hackett, Matthew Enoch, Campbell Gregory, and Hunter Mann each had two hits in the contest. They were followed by Eli Martin, Kolby Sloan, and Barrett Briggs who each added one hit to the Big Orange’s cause. With the victory, Smith County advanced to “Big Monday” needing just two wins to advance to the first ever state championship game at the Junior League level.
WP- Levi Halliburton (SC) LP- Wheeler (CN)
Smith County 15
New Tazewell 1
On July 20th, the Smith County Junior League All Stars made their way to Spring Hill in hopes of playing a doubleheader to land a spot in the state championship versus Goodlettsville. Smith County wasted no time in this one as they jumped out early and often on New Tazewell.
New Tazewell took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but that was all they would get. Reliever Levi Halliburton came on for Smith County and pounded the zone getting ground balls left and right. Smith County then pushed the envelope, pushing across three runs on two hits and a walk. However, in the third Smith County found their big inning. Smith County pushed across 12 runs on seven hits and four walks. The big blow of the inning coming from Kolby Sloan who singled home a pair of runners to make it 5-0. Halliburton then controlled the flow of the game on the mound getting more ground balls and fly-outs as Smith County cruised to a 15-1 victory to advance to the state semifinals versus Madison Central.
Smith County hurler Barrett Briggs started the contest working a solid one inning. The next four belonged to Levi Halliburton who was solid throughout while picking up the win. Halliburton struggled with command at times, but always found a way to get a groundball or strikeout when needed. He worked four innings, striking out three, while allowing only one hit in the contest.
Smith County was led at the plate by a dynamic duo of 13-year-olds, Barrett Briggs and Kolby Sloan who each had three hits. They were followed by Dylan Hackett and Eli Martin who each had two hits. That duo was followed by Matthew Enoch, Campbell Gregory, and Levi Halliburton who each had one hit.
WP- Levi Halliburton (SC)
Smith County 13
Madison Central 11
After cruising through the first game, Smith County looked to pull off the upset and advance to the 2015 Tennessee Junior League State Championship versus the Goodlettsville All Stars in the nightcap game of action on July 20th. The score of this game is very misleading as Smith County was up 13-3 heading to the sixth when their ace hurler, Eli Martin ran out of pitches.
Smith County jumped out on Madison Central in the first three innings take a 4-0 lead on six hits and a walk. In the bottom of the third, Madison Central got to Martin, cutting the lead to 4-3. However, in the fifth Smith County’s big inning came once again as they pushed across seven runs on four hits and three walks, with the big blows coming from Dylan Hackett and Eli Martin who had back-to-back doubles pushing the score to 11-3. Smith County then jumped on Madison Central again in the sixth as they pushed across two more runs to make it 13-3. After Madison Central cut the lead to 13-11 in the sixth, closer Matthew Enoch came on in the seventh with the bases loaded to strike out the side and pick up the save in his first appearance of the tournament leading Smith County to their first state championship at the Junior League level. As the chants of “Black…Orange” began to reign from the Smith County fans, the coaches and players celebrated another remarkable moment in Smith County Little League history.
Smith County ace hurler Eli Martin was flawless through his 5-1/3 innings of work. The stud righty baffled the Madison Central hitters with his fastball, curveball, and newly developed changeup. Martin allowed only two hits while striking out eight in the contest. Dylan Hackett came on in relief in the 6th to pick up a hold before turning it over to Matthew Enoch in the seventh. Enoch was flawless, pitching on pure adrenaline, blowing the high heat by Madison Central to pick up the save with three straight strikeouts.
Smith County was paced offensively by 13-year-old Kolby Sloan who had three hits on the night. Sloan was followed by Dylan Hackett, Eli Martin, and Hunter Mann who each had two hits. Matthew Enoch and Barrett Briggs rounded out the attack for Smith County with one hit each.
WP- Eli Martin (SC) LP- Pirkin (MC) SV- Matthew Enoch (SC)
2015 Tennessee Junior League State Championship
Goodlettsville 19
Smith County 3
Amongst a crowd of around 100 people, the 2015 Tennessee Junior League State Championship was settled on July 21st at 6:00 pm at GM Field in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Goodlettsville came in riding a big wave of momentum and rest after having Monday off, but Smith County also had momentum and something to fight for…pride.
Goodlettsville jumped out early in this one pushing across nine runs in the first two innings to take a 9-1 lead. Smith County pushed across a run in the first as Kolby Sloan singled to drive in Dylan Hackett. In the third, Goodlettsville once more piled it on pushing across six more runs to make it 15-1. They then added two more in the fourth and fifth to make it 19-1. Smith County cut the lead in their final at bat with two runs as Goodlettsville went on to win 19-3, capturing the 2015 Junior League State Championship.
Smith County’s offensive attack was paced by Dylan Hackett who had two hits. Hackett was followed by Eli Martin, Kolby Sloan, Barrett Briggs, and Lawson Underwood who each had one hit.
Smith County took this one on the chin, but did they really lose in the end? The term SCP is heard numerous times throughout the Smith County Football season, but what does it truly mean? For those that don’t know it is an acronym for Smith County Pride, but does it just belong to the high school? For this group of young men, the term SCP was not about sports, but about representing all the small town Little Leagues across the state. When a metro Little League plays a small town league, a pride factor has to come into play somewhere. For the 2015 Smith County Junior League All Stars, the pride factor came after the first loss to Goodlettsville. A feeling of gloom quickly went away when the coaches and players realized what could come from this loss. After the state semifinals thrilling win, that goal came to be true! This dedicated group of young men, is one of the few groups left that have competed in a state tournament every single year they have played. When a word such as “pride” comes into play, the state tournament is no longer a goal for them, it’s a given. The accomplishments made by this team were more than just wins, but memories of knowing they were the first team in league history to reach the state championship at the Junior League level. Congratulations to the 2015 Tennessee Junior League State Runner-Ups, the Smith County All Stars! We look forward to the 2017 Senior League State Tournaments because the title may reign in Smith County!
WP- Crawford (GV) LP- Barrett Briggs (SC)
