Pigeon Forge Rolls Past Concord Christian 16-3

Pigeon Forge entered the final day of the "Playing For A Cure" in-season tournament looking to remain undefeated and move to 10-0 on the young season. They would do just that, defeating Concord Christian 16-3 on Friday afternoon at Cliff Davis Field on the campus of Sevier County High School.

The Tigers would take an early advantage as the second batter of the game Brody Watson would hit a solo homerun, his fifth consecutive game with a homerun to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead of the Lions. Concord would work the final two outs of the inning without any further damage.

Collier Helton took the hill for the visiting Tigers and made quick work of the Lions recording a quick 3 up, 3 down inning on a pair of ground outs to freshman shortstop Colby Boyle, the first of which was a spectacular ranging play to his left and displaying a great arm to gun down the Concord runner.

The Tigers struck for 3 runs in the top of the second after a triple from senior Cannon McClure, the next batter senior David Price would drive home McClure on the first pitch of the at bat on a single to the left fielder to extend the Tigers lead to 2-0. Boyle would reach base on an error by the second baseman using his speed to beat out the bobbled grounder and throw, Price would advance to second on the play.

Price stole third and Boyle second on a double steal to give the Tigers two runners in scoring position for senior Dalton Cole who delivered a line drive to center that plated both Price & Boyle to give the Tigers a 4-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the frame.

Helton would allow one base runner in the second, on a walk. However, he stranded the runner at first by striking out the final batter of the inning. Pigeon Forge would go quietly in the third after a lead-off single from senior Jaxon Allen, the Tigers next three batters would not manage to get anything going offensively.

Concord managed to score two in the bottom of the third following a HBP from Helton, and a single from Wallace to give the Lions runners at 1st & 2nd. Oakley Helton delivered as he laced a line drive double into deep center field over the head of Cole allowing both runners to advance and score 2 on the at bat. Helton would then induce a pop fly to get out of the inning without allowing any further damage.

The Tigers would strike from another run in the top of the fourth after a single to left from Boyle, Branson Headrick would reach on an error from the pitcher on a bunt attempt that would allow Boyle to use his speed and score, Headrick advanced to second on the same error. Pigeon Forge was up 5-2 at that point before Cole would record a strikeout and Watson would fly out to center.

Braden Craig would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a triple for the Lions and would score one batter later on a fielder's choice to second baseman Headrick. Helton retired the next two Concord batters on ground outs to shortstop Boyle and second baseman Headrick, who made a beautiful, ranging play diving to his left and making the throw to just nab the runner.

"We don't even look at them as freshman now at this point in the season, 10 games in. There's still some growing to do, but they are a trio of players that can get the job done and will only get better.", stated Tigers head coach Mike Guinn.

Pigeon Forge would explode for 11 runs in the top of the fifth inning, the leadoff batter, Allen would reach via a four pitch walk, the next batter Helton then laced a ball into right field that allowed Allen to score from first. Fisher Monday would enter the game to courtesy run for the pitcher Helton and steal second base on the second pitch of the next at bat. He then stole third on the fourth pitch of the next at bat, that saw McClure work a four pitch walk to give the Tigers runners at 1st & 3rd.

McClure stole second, while Price would reach base again as well via a walk to load the bases full of Tigers. The next Tiger batter Boyle also drew a walk to plate Monday, while leaving the bases full of Pigeon Forge runners. Headrick singled in his next at bat, scoring McClure from third.

Cole stepped into the box with bases loaded and singled to right field, scoring both Boyle and Price. Headrick advanced to third giving the Tigers runners on 1st and 3rd once again with only one out in the inning. Watson drew another walk one batter later to load the bases again for Pigeon Forge.

Mycah Effler would enter the game as a courtesy runner for catcher Watson. Allen would ground into a fielder's choice to the pitcher who threw the ball away to the catcher allowing Headrick and Cole to both score to give the Tigers a 12-3 lead, as Effler advanced to third on the error and Allen to second.

Helton recorded the second out of the inning on a fielder's choice to second to score Effler from third and advance Allen to third. Freshman Jamison Allen entered the contest for Leff Louttit, and immediately drew another walk from Concord, Monday would follow suit after entering for McClure to load the bags full of Tigers.

Price would step to the plate and slash a line drive single into right field, scoring the Allen brothers and allowing Monday to advance to third. Boyle would reach base again on an error by the second baseman, that would plate Monday on the error before Concord would get out of the inning after a hard shot liner from Headrick was caught by the third baseman.

Helton would not come back to the mound to start the fifth inning, ending his outing after 4 innings pitched, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 base on balls. He would end the game with 6 strikeouts.

Louttit would enter the game to pitch for Pigeon Forge and work a quick inning only allowing one base runner on a hit batter. Louttit would work 1 inning of relief for the Tigers allowing zero hits, zero runs, zero walks, while striking out 2.

The Tigers move to 10-0 on the season and will next face Claiborne at home on Monday, March 23rd with a first pitch time set for 5:30 PM.