BY DAVE LINK
MURFREESBORO — Nobody expected Hardin Valley Academy’s baseball team to reach the Class 4A state championship game after it lost the opening game of the tournament.
Nobody except the Hawks.
After losing to Collierville 2-0 in the opener, HVA won four losers’ bracket games to reach the Class 4A final — including two victories Thursday afternoon against Collierville.
The Hawks defeated the Dragons 4-1 in the early game – forcing an ‘if necessary’ game – and advanced to the state championship with another 4-1 victory, both at Oakland High School.
“Our guys handle pressure so well,” HVA coach Tyler Roach said. “They don’t panic. It makes my job so easy. They make me look way better than I am because they’re so mature and they understand the game.
“They’re beyond their years in maturity in how they stay in games and don’t panic.”
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HVA (34-6) will play Farragut (35-8) for the Class 4A state championship Friday at 7 p.m. CT at Middle Tennessee State University.
It’s a matchup of District 4-4A rivals. The Hawks are 3-1 against Farragut this season.
“I think we’re the only team in this tournament and maybe the state that doesn’t put (Farragut) on a pedestal and fear the ‘F’ on their chests,” Roach said. “All year we’ve played them well, and our guys are going to be ready. We’re going to come out playing our best and I’m sure they’re going to come out playing their best. … We play like a college-level game and hopefully tomorrow will be the same, too.”
The Hawks are making just their second state appearance in baseball. They won the Class 3A state title in 2015 over Farragut.
Senior right-hander Will Webb got the start in Thursday’s second game. It was his first start since April 21.
Webb (2-0) threw a four-hitter and allowed one earned run, struck out eight, and didn’t walk a batter.
That was his gameplan.
“Just throw strikes, let my defense work,” Webb said. “That’s really all I needed to do.”
HVA trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.
And the Hawks weren’t panicking.
“The kids were fine,” Roach said. “They know we’re never out of a game offensively. We’ve been great all year. We know at any point in time we’re going to strike for three or four runs, and sure enough, we did in that situation. Again, credit to them because they don’t panic.”
They went to work against Collierville starter Keaton Baird in the bottom of the fifth.
The Hawks drew three walks, loading the bases with two outs, and Ty Denton drew an RBI walk.
Webb hit a two-run single for a 3-1 lead.
Webb pitched around a single in the top of the sixth, ending the inning with a strikeout.
The Hawks took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Austin Bolding led off with a single and later scored on Caleb Neely’s RBI single.
Webb retired the Dragons in order in the seventh on a groundout, a flyball, and another groundout.
And the Hawks began to celebrate.
“It’s exactly what we needed out of (Webb),” Roach said. “We gave him the ball and he said, ‘I’ll go take care of business,” and he did. I’m super proud of him.”
Webb liked his team’s chances of a good run this season.
“I knew even before the season started that we were going to make it far,” Webb said, “and I knew we were going to be a good team just because we are all so close.”
In the Hawks’ first game Thursday, senior Micah Hoffmeister threw a one-hitter, striking out five and walking none.
He threw only 81 pitches.
“Micah did so well,” Roach said, “he limited his pitches and we could have used him again (Thursday). He threw great. He’s another senior that we called on and he dominated.”
Carson Hoffmeister went 2 for 3 with an RBI in Thursday’s first game, and Bolding was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Roach gave kudos to his entire team — and especially his senior pitchers – for reaching the final.
“All of our seniors that have thrown this week, Carson (Hoffmeister), Jack Sparks, Adam Baker, Mikah Hoffmeister and Will Webb, it’s the last time they’re going to be on the mound for us,” Roach said, “and they made it memorable and they took advantage of their opportunities.
“I’m super proud of them.”