By JUSTIN LAMB
MURFREESBORO – Alcoa’s return to the state tournament after a 20-year absence got off to a rocky start.
Milan scored five runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back in earning an 11-0 win over the Tornadoes in their Class 2A State Tournament opener Tuesday night at Riverdale High School.
“This is a tough place,” Alcoa coach Steve Dunn said of being back in the state tournament for the first since 2004. “These kids are not used to being at this level. They were little bit like a deer in the headlights.”
The loss forces Alcoa (29-7) into an elimination game against White House Heritage (28-7) at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Patriots suffered a 7-0 loss to Loretto in Tuesday’s opener.
“We’ve got a real young group, but we are going to come here and play really well tomorrow,” Dunn said. “We’ve just got get a little momentum going hopefully.”
The Bulldogs (26-8), who were the Class 2A state runners-up in 2023, will face the Mustangs (27-6) at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Milan scored all the runs it would need in the first inning highlighted by Cary Allen Burke’s two-run homer off Alcoa starter Bryce Hayes. Lincoln Reel later ripped a two-double to deep center field before Bo Adkisson followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0.
“They got us down early and punched us hard,” Dunn said. “They rattled our starting pitcher a little bit and I think our guys were little bit shocked at that.”
The runs were more than enough for Bulldogs’ starter Colin Milligan, who tossed a two-hit shutout while throwing just 50 pitches with two strikeouts. The start was just the third of the year for Milligan, who has been battling a strained back muscle throughout the season.
Miles Watson and Johan Burchfield had the lone hits for Alcoa, while Hayes took the loss allowing eight runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Despite the tough loss, Dunn knows his team will be up to the challenge in Wednesday’s elimination game.
“I think we will rebound tomorrow and play well,” Dunn said. “Hopefully some of the jitters are out and we will settle down and play some good baseball.”
GREENEVILLE PLAYS LATE; WINS 4-1
Defending Class 3A champion Greeneville (25-12) had its state tournament opener get delayed and moved to another location due to light malfunctions at Smyrna. Greeneville was supposed to play there at 6:30 p.m. but had to wait another three hours to play Signal Mountain — and they did it at Blackman High School instead.
Nevertheless, Greeneville handled it all well. Colton Richards went 3 for 3 with an RBI and Kaine Ricker 2 for 2 with and RBI, as Carson Quillen did work from the mound. The Virginia Tech commit and hero of the 2023 championship win threw a two-hitter over seven innings, striking out 10 and walking three.
Greeneville will play at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday against South Gibson (26-10).
OAKDALE WINS FIRST STATE GAME EVER
After unsuccessful appearances in 1977 and 1994, Oakdale finally got its first state tournament win in baseball on Tuesday. Scoreless in the top of the fourth, Oakdale posted four runs to take control of the contest against South Pittsburg and rode that momentum to a 5-2 win in a Class 1A state tournament contest..
Nehemiah Cooney went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Collins was 1 for 1 with two walks and an RBI.
Joseph Summers went the full seven innings, striking out three and walking one. He allowed just six hits.
The Eagles (24-12) will take on Eagleville (31-5) at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Eagleville is the two-time defending state champion in Class 1A.
FIGHTING FOR THEIR SEASONS WEDNESDAY
Sweetwater (32-11) fell to Riverside 5-3 and will play Smith County at 10 a.m. Wednesday in an elimination game.
Gibbs (33-5-1) lost to Tullahoma (32-6) by a 10-1 count Tuesday. Gibbs will play White House at 10 a.m. Wednesday in an elimination game.
Oak Ridge, which is back at state for the first time in more than 50 years, dropped a 5-2 decision to Nolenshville. The Wildcats will play at 10 a.m. Wednesday against Bradley Central to keep their season alive.