By Doug Hall
Tennessee Director of Scouting

MURFREESBORO, TN – The atmosphere was electric as Jackson Christian and Grace Christian Academy opened up spectacular day of baseball yesterday in the Class A State Championship Game at Reese Smith, Jr. Field on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University.

The game was scoreless through two innings, but Jackson Christian struck first in the top of the third when they plated a run off Grace starter Justin Shaw.  With one out, Carson Parker doubled to left field, and Peyton Sills came into run for the catcher.  Center-fielder Brock Blakemore followed with a double of his own to drive in Sills for a 1-0 Jackson Christian lead.

After Grace went down scoreless in their half of the third, Jackson Christian went to back to work in the top of the fourth.

Third Baseman Robert Nickias led off the inning with a single up the middle and promptly stole second base.  With Nickias on second base and no outs, Luke Shepherd was called on to relieve Shaw for Grace.  Conner Walker greeted Shepherd with a bunt single, advancing Nickias to third, and then notched his own stolen base to put runners at second and third with no one out. DH Miles Humphreys followed with an RBI single, Hunter Higdon smoked a two-run triple, and Carson Parker drove in Higdon with his second hit of the game to give Jackson Christian a 5-0 lead.

Grace got on the board off Jackson Christian starter Matt Poteete in the bottom of the fourth when Kaleb Savage led off the inning with a base hit, and Josh Liford and Luke Shepherd each followed with singles to load the bases with no outs.  Micah Wheeler drove in Savage with a single, but Poteete got a strikeout and a double play to get out of the bases loaded, no outs threat without further damage.

Meanwhile, the Jackson Christian offense continued to add runs, scoring twice in the fifth when Rice led off the inning with a double to right, Conner Walker followed with an RBI triple, and Higdon drove in his third run of the day with a single to center to give Jackson Christian a commanding 7-1 lead.

Grace added a run in their half of the fifth, and Jackson Christian tacked one on the the top of the seventh to make the score 8-2 as Poteete took the mound in the bottom of the seventh attempting to finish off the complete game effort for JCS.

After allowing a two out double to Justin Shaw, Poteete retired Taylor Lawson on a groundball to give Jackson Christian the Class A State Title.