Pigeon Forge Tigers Triumph in TSSAA 2A District 2 Tournament with 3-2 Win Against Eagleton

"We've got to practice this week and get better, we're not there yet." was the simple message from Pigeon Forge Tigers coach Mike Guinnfollowing his team's 3-2 district tournament championship game victory over Eagleton on Monday evening.

"I wanted to host, I wanted to be home, we're pretty good here." Guinn responded when asked about his energy throughout the matchup with the Royals.

Junior Leff Louttit started on the mound for the Tigers throwing four innings of shutout baseball and stifling the Royals at the dish after allowing zero hits from a strong Eagleton lineup.

In a matchup where both teams hold a win this year, Pigeon Forge came away with the TSSAA 2A District 2 tournament championship after a hard fought game that saw the Tigers jump out front early in the bottom of the first inning, on a solo homerun from Brody Watson, his 10th on the season.

"When you just see it that well in your first at bat, usually you'll get an AB (at bat) and just do something, then the next at bat you'll have it but when you see it that first at bat, you'll carry that confidence the rest of the game." Watson said on his confidence following the homerun in the first.

Neither team threatened until the bottom of the third inning when Pigeon Forge had two runners in scoring position following singles from Jaxon Allen and David Price. Allen advanced to third on the Price single after interference was called on the Royals shortstop, who made contact with Allen as he was coming into the bag.

Eagleton would get out of the jam however on a pop out that was induced by the Royals freshman starting pitcher Jack Kidd.

Louttit would sit Eagleton down quickly in the top of the 4th inning, using only 11 pitches to end the inning on his 5th and final strikeout on the evening.

Pigeon Forge went right back to work in the bottom of the frame, Canon McClure would reach first on a 5 pitch walk. McClure would then steal 2nd and 3rd base both during the next at bat from Fisher Monday.

Monday would hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop, who in turn made an error allowing Monday to reach 1st and McClure to score, giving Pigeon Forge a 2-0 edge.

Monday stole 2nd on the 2nd pitch of the next at bat of Dalton Cole, who drew a walk to once again give the Tigers two runners on base.

The inning would end abruptly on a double play turned by the Royals defense after a ground ball from Colby Boyle after Monday slipped coming around 3rd base, unable to retreat to the bag before the tag was made for the final out of the frame.

Cole would take over for the Tigers in the top of the 5th inning and work around a leadoff walk with a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball out to deep centerfield that was caught by Allen.

Eagleton struck in the top of the sixth for a pair of runs to tie the game up after a trio of singles to start the inning would plate one of the Royals runs before the Tigers were able to get the first out at second as the Royals batter tried to stretch on the throw to home before Helton would chase him down making the tag right at 2nd for the out.

Eagleton scored their second run after an error from Collier allowed the runner at third to scamper home following a Royals grounder and the score was knotted at 2.

Helton led off the bottom of the 6th with a single to right field but Louttit would ground into a double play before McClure would fly out to right field to end the inning.

Cole worked a quick top of the 7th using only 12 pitches to retire the Royals in order with a pair of ground outs and a fly ball.

The Tigers would enter the bottom of the frame looking to walk it off and claim the district tournament title like so many times before.

Just like in their previous meeting at Jack A. Parton Field, Monday would come up with another huge double to lead off the inning from the Tigers sending a shot to deep center field and using his speed to reach 2nd before the throw would come in.

"Another big hit, Fisher is swinging the bat great for us and doing what we need. The big moments are never too big for him and he showed that again today." Guinn said when asked about Monday's double.

Cole would walk once again giving Pigeon Forge runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs in the inning, only needing one run for the victory.

Branson Headrick would enter the game to run for Monday, he however, would be thrown out at third on a bunt attempt from Boyle that was fielded by the third baseman, who made the throw to the shortstop covering the bag for an out.

Cole and Boyle executed a double steal on a 2-0 count to Allen, positioning the winning run just 90 feet from home plate.

Allen would take the 3-1 pitch for a strike, giving the Tigers leadoff hitter a full count with the game on the line.

Allen would turn the next pitch down the third base line allowing Cole to break for the plate and score the winning run as the Tigers celebration would spill out of the dugout and onto the field surrounding Allen at first following the game winning single.

"He's clutch, he does it all. He pitches, he hits, he defends, he's a great communicator, he understands what's going on, he's a great player." when Guinn was asked about Allen's performance for the Tigers.

"Just see fastball, hit it hard and let Dalton score." Allen stated on his mindset heading in to his final at bat of the game.

The Tigers will host the region tournament which will begin this Friday with a matchup between Eagleton and Unicoi County. Pigeon Forge will host West Greene later that evening with a 5pm first pitch. The winners will face each other on Saturday afternoon for the region championship.