Pigeon Forge Tigers Dominate Smoky Mountain in Complete Game Shutout by Mycah Effler

It was a warm Wednesday afternoon, but that didn't slow down the Pigeon Forge Tigers, who shutdown the Smoky Mountain Mustangs backed by a complete game shutout from sophomore starter Mycah Effler.

"My cutter, cutter was definitely on today. Commanded the zone, hit my spots, it was a great day.",

Effler said after his 83 pitch outing, where he only allowed 2 hits on the day, while striking out 6 Mustangs.

Effler worked a quick first inning. He sat the Mustangs down in order with a pair of groundouts after striking out the game's opening batter.

The Tigers would leave a man stranded on base in their half of the frame following a walk by David Price, the Mustangs got out of the inning one batter later after Collier Helton would ground out to the shortstop.

The Mustangs were in business quick to start the next inning as Effler hit the lead off batter for Smoky Mountain but catcher Leff Louttit easily gunned down the would-be base stealer on the first pitch of the next at-bat. A fly ball from the next Mustang ended the inning.

Pigeon Forge's leadoff man Louttit walked before being courtesy ran for by Fisher Monday. Monday stole second on the second pitch of the at-bat and score off of a single from Dalton Cole, who was cut down at second trying to extend the hit into a double.

The Tigers would get more men on base after Branson Headrick reached via an error by the third baseman, he would steal second a few pitches later. Colby Boyle walked and the Tigers had runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs in the frame.

Headrick & Boyle would convert the double steal before Headrick scored following a single from senior Jaxon Allen on a hard hit ball to 2nd, beating the throw from the Mustangs fielder. The Mustangs got out of the jam one batter later however, as Brody Watson smashed a line drive right at the first baseman, who made the catch to end the inning.

Effler would get into his only real trouble of the game during the top of the third inning, as an error from Boyle allowed the second batter of the inning to reach, which was followed by a walk to give the Mustangs runners at 1st & 2nd with only 1 out.

The threat would be ended as the freshman middle infield duo of Headrick and Boyle would roll a beautiful 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and give the momentum squarely to Pigeon Forge.

"They can be very good, they're just little, young freshman. They're eager, they work really hard, they listen, they just want to play and we love it." Guinn said of his freshman 2nd baseman Headrick and SS Boyle.

Price led off the bottom half of the third with a groundout to short before Helton reached via an error by the Mustangs shortstop. The next batter Louttit singled, to advance Helton to 2nd and the Tigers had runners on 1st & 2nd with one out in the inning.

Dalton Cole drew a 7-pitch walk that loaded the bases for Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge couldn't make anything of it however as Canon McClure and Headrick would both strikeout to end the threat and leave the score at 2-0 Tigers.

Smoky Mountain would get their lead-off man on base after a single to left field. He would advance to second one batter later on a fielder's choice ground out to the pitcher Effler, but he would work a ground out and another strikeout to end the Mustangs rally.

Pigeon Forge would expand their lead in the bottom half of the 4th inning on a 2-R homerun from Watson who deposited a 3-1 pitch deep over the right field fence plating Boyle who had reached first base following being hit by a 1-2 pitch. Price would single one batter later following the homerun but the Tigers could not make anything of it and headed to the 5th inning up 4-0.

"He just sees the ball really well, he's disciplined, he knows the strike zone. He doesn't chase pitches, swings at strikes and just a very disciplined hitter that's worked very hard to get to where he is at.", Guinn spoke of Watson after his homerun.

Smoky Mountain's leadoff batter would reach on single to center field, however Effler would retire the next 3 batters on groundouts to the left side of the infield.

The Tigers would get back into action with a leadoff single by Cole, a walk by McClure, which was followed by a nice sacrifice bunt from Headrick to move both Tiger baserunners into scoring position with only one out in the inning.

Cole scored the next at bat after Boyle would reach on an error by the first baseman, after using his speed to rush the fielder into the error. McClure would advance to third base on the error as well. The Tigers could not push anymore runs across and headed to the 6th inning up 5-0.

A pair of strikeouts from Effler and a groundout made quick work of the Mustangs in their half of the 6th inning. Smoky Mountain worked their own quick half of the inning sitting the Tigers down in order before heading into their final at bats of the game.

Effler would retire the first two batters of the inning quickly before allowing a four-pitch walk and giving the Mustangs a base runner with two outs in the inning. It was all for naught as Headrick would make a beautiful play on a slow hit grounder and fired it to first on the run to end the game and give the Tigers the 5-0 win.

"He was efficient, he threw all three of his pitches for strikes, commanded the zone and attacked the batters in some really tough spots." spoke Coach Mike Guinn on starting pitcher Effler.

The Tigers will face off against Unicoi County on Thursday at Jack A. Parton Field, with the first pitch being set for 1PM.

Mycah Effler fires a pitch home for Pigeon Forge during their 5-0 win against Smoky Mountain on Wednesday afternoon.

Brody Watson celebrates his 2-R homerun with Leff Louttit.