CHATTANOOGA, TN – No. 1 Walters State capped off an undefeated TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament run on Thursday afternoon, run-ruling Pellissippi State 12-1 in the Championship.
With the win, the Senators improved to 53-6-1 overall and have won 19 games in a row.
"It means a lot to take care of business," Jack Torbett said. "We had a chip on our shoulder since we were put out the last two years. We have our minds on Junction, and that's the way it's been the whole year."
Jack Torbett led the way at the plate for the Senators with two hits and two runs scored. Torbett was named the MVP of the Tournament after collecting eight hits and playing stellar defense in the field.
"It means a lot, just having the team behind me," Torbett said about winning MVP. "I have so much confidence in the people behind me that I can just go out and perform."
Along with Torbett, Jack Vogele hit two home runs and drove in three runs while Kole Fenton had three RBIs. Nate Conner also drove in two runs.
On the mound, Tyler Welch got the start and threw three innings. Welch gave up one run on two hits and struck out three. Reilly Byers (3-0) replaced Welch in the fourth and threw the final four innings. Byers didn't allow a hit and struck out three.
The Senators got on the board first in the game, as Carson Cabbage singled home Holden Pantier, and Taylor Harris doubled in Torbett to make it 2-0. The final run of the inning came on an RBI double by Fenton that made it 3-0.
Pellissippi got a run back in the third and then loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs. However, Byers got a double play and a strikeout to get out of it.
Following a run scored on a sacrifice fly in the fourth by Fenton that made it 4-1, Vogele smacked a solo shot in the fifth that increased the lead to 5-1. The final seven runs for Walters State came in the seventh. A wild pitch scored the first run and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded made it 7-1. Brantley Bamberg then scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-1, and it was 10-1 after a two-RBI single by Conner.
Vogele ended the game the next batter, smoking a two-run home run over the fence in center to enforce the run-rule.
Up Next:
Walters State will now host the NJCAA Appalachian District Series against No. 16 Georgia Highlands. The Series will be played at Walters State, May 13-15, with game times to be announced.
"We just have to relax and trust ourselves," Torbett said. "We know we can do it so we just have to be calm and go out and play."
