COLUMBIA 鈥 Green Hill ended most of the anticipated suspense of a rubber match with six runs in the first inning last Saturday as the Hawks kicked down the door to the state baseball tournament following two failed tries with a 9-2 trouncing of host Columbia at Mark Pickle Field.
The Hawks, who lost a Game 3 sectional at Centennial two years ago and were shut out in a doubleheader at Nolensville last season after winning Game 1, were ignited by leadoff batter Gabe Gray, who had two doubles among his three hits. Nick Owens Jr., Jackson Hines and Jackson Crawford each drove in two runs on the sunny, warm afternoon. Owens and Hines doubled, as did winning pitcher Joey Greenstreet as Green Hill had 11 hits. The Hawks added a run in the fourth inning and two in the fifth.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 our goal every game is to score first,鈥 said third-year Green Hill coach Justin Alberson. 鈥淭hat way we can open up the offense and put pressure on them. They did a fantastic job.鈥
On the mound, Greenstreet held Columbia to six hits, single runs in the second and third innings and three walks while hitting one and striking out nine as he threw 114 pitches.
鈥淲e got all the confidence in Joey,鈥 said Alberson, who took Greenbrier to the 2021 state tournament before coming to GHHS in 鈥23. 鈥淛oey wasn鈥檛 a starter for us all year, and then started late in the postseason, just like he did last year.
鈥淛ust really proud of our guys. We finally got over the hump.鈥
After Columbia cracked four home runs in a 9-3 Game 1 win Thursday, Green Hill bounced back Friday night with a 4-3 win.
Owens doubled home Greenstreet in the fourth for a 1-0 Green Hill lead.
After Columbia scored twice to go in front 2-1 in the top of the sixth, Green Hill regained the lead with insurance in the bottom half with Grant Kruger getting the only RBI.
Greenstreet gave up a run in the top of the seventh but got the save. Liam Bowles hit a batter but retired the final batter in the sixth and was rewarded with the win. Starter Braden Serbin worked the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing the sixth-inning runs on four hits and five walks while striking out seven.
The Hawks outhit the Lions 7-6. Owens had three hits and Greenstreet two.
鈥淥ur guys are never going to quit,鈥 Alberson said. 鈥淭he energy was up the entire series. We had really good at-bats offensively. They just came through and executed.鈥
Green Hill reported to Oakland High School鈥檚 Mack Hawks Field yesterday with 25-11 record to take on hometown team Blackman. The loser will play at 10 a.m. today while the winner will return to action at 12:30 p.m. with Oak Ridge or Clarksville the opponent. Another loser鈥檚 bracket game is set for 5 p.m. today before the bracket final tomorrow. The one-game championship will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Middle Tennessee State鈥檚 Reese Smith Field with Independence, Farragut, Siegel or Rossview coming from the other bracket.
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