Helton Dominates, Pigeon Forge Claims Region 1 2A Championship with 4-1 Victory Over Unicoi County

The stakes grow every game played from here out, but the Pigeon Forge Tigers haven't let that slow them down one step as they claimed the Region 1 2A Championship on Saturday afternoon by defeating Unicoi County by a 4-1 margin.

Freshman hurler and recently named Sevier County Sports Report Co-Newcomer of the Year Collier Helton showed why he earned that honor both on the mound and at the dish for the Tigers.

"Collier came out from end to end; he was totally focused and pitched with a lot of poise." Coach Mike Guinn said when asked on Helton's performance on the day.

Pigeon Forge would get off to a quick start after Helton sat the Blue Devils down in order with a pop out and a pair of strikeouts to bring his team to the plate for their first at bats of the day.

The Tigers would get their leadoff men on base and Jaxon Allen drew a 5-pitch walk, that was followed by a single from Sevier County Sports Report Player of the Year Brody Watson on a line drive into right field.

Allen and Watson would both advance 90 feet following a wild pitch setting the stage for Helton, as he delivered with a 2-RBI single into center to put the Tigers on the board with a 2-0 lead.

"It definitely gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the game, knowing that I had a cushion to work with the rest of the game." Helton said of his 2-RBI single.

The Blue Devils would work out of the jam and leave on Tigers runner on base after a pair of groundouts to end the inning.

Helton would once again deliver a 3 up, 3 down inning, only using 8 pitches in the top of the 2nd inning to set the Blue Devils down.

The Tigers would once again get to work early after drawing a pair of walks, and Allen would also reach base following an error by the third baseman on a hard hit ball.

Watson once again delivered with a rope into right field that scored Canon McClure making it 3-0 and allowed both Colby Boyle and Allen to advance 90 feet as well, leaving the bases full of Tigers with only one out in the frame.

David Price delivered a single, that plated Boyle and put the Tigers up 4-0 still with only one out in the inning. Unicoi would get out of the inning without any further damage however after Helton grounded into a fielder's choice with the Devils getting the out at home and inducing Leff Louttit into a pop fly to the first baseman.

Unicoi would get their first runner of the game in the top of the third following an error on a ball to Boyle, the Tigers would work out of it with three quick outs to leave the score 4-0 heading into the Tigers portion of the inning.

The Blue Devils starter Isaac Harris, settled in and sat the Tigers down in order on three strikeouts on only 10 pitches to bring his team back to the dish looking to even the score.

A pair of singles from Kolby Jones and Dustin Bogart gave the Blue Devils their first opportunity of the game for run(s). Harris would smash a single into centerfield on the 2nd pitch of the at-bat and allowed Jones to come around from 2nd for the score to make it 4-1 Pigeon Forge.

Helton struck out the next batter Hudson Berry before Thomas Bennett would single after the ball would strike Helton on the leg and bounced away giving the Blue Devils a bases loaded situation with only a single out in the inning.

Helton induced an infield fly from Angel Delgado and a lineout from Alex Laningham to second baseman Branson Headrick to end the threat and leave the bases loaded of Unicoi Co runners.

Harris would work another quick inning, only allowing Allen to reach base via an error by shortstop Jones, nothing would come from the E however.

Unicoi would get a runner on base in the top of the 5th following a single from Jones with 2 outs already recorded in the inning. He would be stranded on base, following a fly out to right field that was fielded by David Price for the Tigers.

Helton led off the bottom of the frame with a single into center, Louttit recorded the first out of the inning on a fly ball to deep center that Bennett was able to bring in. Dalton Cole would record the second out after a sacrifice bunt moved Helton 90 feet to 2nd base.

Fisher Monday then singled into left field on a hard hit ball, Laningham however, fielded the ball quickly and Helton was called out at home on a controversial call, that brought Coach Mike Guinn out of the dugout to argue the play. His argument was all for naught as the call stood and the third out was recorded.

Helton returned to the mound after the play, channeling his emotions to add a few extra MPH to his pitches, delivering a quick 1,2,3 inning on only 11 pitches before letting out his emotions following the final strikeout of the inning.

"I'm just thinking I need to shut them down, I wasn't very happy about it. I just wanted to shut them down and shut them up." Helton lamented when asked about his emotions coming back out after the controversial call at home.

Boyle reached base on a single using his speed on a ball that was hit into no-mans land between first and second before Allen would ground into an inning ending double play.

All that stood between the Tigers and a sectional birth were three outs, with Helton returning to the mound looking to go the distance.

Helton induced a fly ball foul out on the 2nd pitch of the at-bat to the leadoff Blue Devil Delgado, before walking Laningham, giving Unicoi County life in their final at-bats of the game.

Helton recorded the 2nd out of the frame after a quick three pitch strikeout, leaving the Tigers only needing a lone out for the win.

Tanner White singled on a ball into deep short, that Boyle made a beautiful play on but the first baseman Watson couldn't hold the bag giving the Blue Devils runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.

Guinn called on Allen to try and end the game and send the Tigers to the region championship win and sectional series.

Allen delivered with 2 quick strikes to Jones before leaving a curveball up, that Jones delivered into centerfield but Cole was quick with the play and the throw into 2nd, forcing Laningham to throw on the brakes at third leaving the Blue Devils still down 4-1.

Down to their final out, Unicoi's Bogart would take the 2nd pitch of his at-bat into left-field but Canon McClure would be there waiting to record the final out and send the Pigeon Forge Tigers to their 9th Region Championship and into the Sub-State round of the tournament.

"We don't care who comes here, we just want to be here." Guinn said when asked about hosting the sectional series.

The Tigers will host the Kingston Yellow Jackets on Wednesday.