Senior League District 2 Championship Series
Smith County Seniors 6
Portland Seniors 5
The District 2 Championship series resumed this past Monday evening at the local Crump Paris Park after being suspended by rain the previous week. After numerous rainouts, the action finally was resumed on July 6th in the 3rd inning.
Smith County pushed across an early run to take a 1-0 lead with Portland at bat before the rain began to fall the previous week. According to Little League rules, any game previously shortened must resume before any contest may begin after. This contest resumed in the third inning when Portland was able to take the lead from Smith County 2-1 in their half of the inning on two walks and a single. Smith County then came to plate as Justin Vaden, Leith McKinney, and Chris McKinley strung together three singles and Britt Dillard drew a walk to put runners on for Adam Goolsby who singled to left field to give Smith County the lead 3-2. In the fourth, Smith County pushed across three more runs to extend the lead to 6-2. The inning started as Draven Wilkerson singled then a pair of walks loaded the bases for Chris McKinley who grounded a ball to the 2nd basemen to extend the lead to 4-2. Britt Dillard then came up and drove a ball to deep left to drive in two more, extending the lead to 6-2. However, Portland was going anywhere. In the sixth, Portland was able to push across three runs of their own on two errors, two walks, and single to make the contest 6-5. With the tying run on 3rd base, Smith County made a pitching change as Leith McKinney came in to strikeout the side, picking up the save,
Smith County pitcher Cody Bryant picked up the win in the contest as he tossed two innings of relief. Bryant turned the ball over to Mason Gregory who struggled with command. Gregory was relieved by Leith McKinney who came in to pick up the save working two innings of scoreless work.
Smith County was led at the plate by Adam Goolsby, Draven Wilkerson, and Chris McKinley who each had two hits. They were followed by Justin Vaden, Leith McKinney, and Cody Bryant who each had a hit.
Portland was kept off balance at the plate but did manage three hits. They were led by Dakota White, Noah Mayak, and Kory Meadors-Henry who each had one hit.
WP- Cody Bryant (SC)
LP- Ryan Smith (P)
SV- Leith McKinney (SC)
Senior League District 2 Championship Series (cont.)
Smith County Seniors 17
Portland Seniors 0
Once again battling the rain, the District 2 Senior League Championship Series resumed on Tuesday, July 7th, at the local Crump Paris Park. Smith County narrowly escaped a loss in the first contest, but the second was a completely different animal.
Through two innings Smith County had an early 3-0 lead as they were able to take advantage of an error and three straight singles from Nathan Huff, Cody Bryant, and Adam Goolsby to gain an early advantage. In the third, Smith County pushed across one more run on three straight singles from Mitchell Kirby, Chris McKinley, and Britt Dillard. In the fourth, the rain began to fall with Portland at the plate as the contest went into an hour and 10 minute delay. Upon resuming, the contest quickly swung Smith County’s way as they took advantage of seven walks and singles from Zeke Gibbs, Mason Gregory, Cody Bryant, Draven Wilkerson, and Leith McKinney to extend the lead to 14-0. In the fifth, Smith County pushed across three more runs on two walks and singles from Draven Wilkerson, Devin Goodwin, and Mason Gregory as they coasted to another District 2 Championship behind a 17-0 mercy rule victory.
Smith County pitcher Leith McKinney was dominant on the mound working around two walks. The 15-year old righty tossed a complete game, scattering two hits, while striking out eight in pitching his team into the 2015 Senior League State Tournament in Morristown, Tennessee.
Smith County pounded out 13 hits in the contest. They were led at the plate Draven Wilkerson, Mason Gregory, and Cody Bryant who each had two hits. This trio was followed by Leith McKinney, Mitchell Kirby, Devin Goodwin, Chris McKinley, Britt Dillard, Zeke Gibbs, and Nathan Huff who each had one hit.
McKinney kept Portland off balance as they were able to scrap out two hits. They were led by Jordan Douglas and Noah Woods who each had one hit.
WP- Leith McKinney (SC)
LP- Noah Mayak (P)
