Jordan Idell celebrates during the Class AA state championship. (Photo: Danny Parker)
By Jesse Smithey
MURFREESBORO – The Greeneville High School baseball team apparently didn’t want any more drama after what happened to them Thursday.
The Greene Devils needed a three-run walk-off home run on Thursday to qualify for Friday’s Class AA state championship. But once they got there, they run-ruled Riverside to capture the state title.
Greeneville sophomore Keylan Newton threw a two-hitter in five innings, and Jordan Idell went 2-for-2 with a home run and five RBIs as the Greene Devils routed Riverside, 11-0.
Greeneville athletic director Brad Woolsey attributed the team’s success to the way third-year coach Andy Collins prepares it.
“I think the biggest thing with Andy is, from my perspective, is fundamentally, he teaches the game the right way,” said Woolsey. “I was standing next to a junior college coach today, and he was watching our team play. And he was talking about how fundamental our kids are in the batter’s box.”
Greeneville wasn’t just fundamental in the batter’s box Friday. It was explosive.
Braden Spano, who went 2-for-3 Friday, got the blowout started in the first inning with his three-run double. Idell hit a three-run home run in the second inning.
And then Greeneville plated five in the bottom of the third: Dalton McLain went 3-for-3 with an RBI single in the fifth. Idell had a two-run single.
Things went so well for Greeneville on Friday that even the No. 9 hitter, Bryce Buchanan, had a 2-for-2 day at the plate.
It’s the first state championship for Greeneville (28-11-1), which went 0-for-2 in its only other state tournament appearance in 2016.
But this school year, 2017-18, has been one to remember for Greeneville High School and its fanbase. It won the Class 4A state football championship in December and now this baseball title. And the boys’ soccer team played Friday for the Class AA state championship.
“We’re pleased (with the year). It just goes back to coaches and kids working hard and working together – and making things happen,” said Woolsey. “We’re proud of them when they win championships. That’s a fun thing, to win championships. And we’re very thankful for that.
“But we also recognize there are bigger things going on than athletics. It’s really about education. We have opportunities how to teach kids how to handle different situations in life, so that when you win it’s a really, really sweet thing.”
