Martin's slam puts Saints away

MT. JULIET — Adam Martin's grand slam broke open a close game in the seventh inning Monday as Watertown pulled away from Mt. Juliet Christian 11-6.
Watertown's go-ahead score came in the fifth as the Purple Tigers broke a 5-5 deadlock with two runs, one coming on Ethan Patterson's RBI triple, off starter and loser Jonathan Roberts.
Winning pitcher Taylor Rowland had two of the Tigers' 11 hits, including an RBI double in a four-run first inning. Jesse Scott singled home two runs in the first.
The Saints matched Watertown's first with four in the second on two-run singles by Roberts and Daniel Shedd.
Justin Breece belted a pair of doubles for Watertown while Rowland and Caleb Hughes each had two hits as the Purple Tigers moved to 6-12 for the season and 3-9 in District 8-A.
Rowland allowed four eanred runs on seven hits and seven walks with nine strikeouts.
Jonathan Roberts went 4-for-4 for Mt. Juliet Christian while T.J. Roberts [no relation] doubled and Tyler Holloway had a hit.
Jonathan Roberts pitched the first five frames before Codye Sullians tossed the last two as the Saints slipped to 4-10, 1-7.
Watertown will travel to Westmoreland today for a 4:30 p.m. makeup game while Mt. Juliet Christian will go to Friendship Christian at 4 p.m. Thursday.

White County comes from behind to edge Lebanon 8-7
White County overcame a five-run Lebanon lead in the middle innings Monday night to escape Veterans Field with an 8-7 victory.
Lebanon led 5-0 after two innings and 7-2 through three. But White County got a three-run homer by Drew haston in the third inning and a three-run double by winning pitcher J.J. Taylor in the fourth to deal Cody Ferrell the loss as the Blue Devils dropped to 12-17 for the season and 2-9 in District 7-AAA.
Brent Morris had a two-run single, Chase Hudson and Drew Brockette RBI singles and Garrett Fanchier an RBI double in the Devils' five-run second inning. Hudson hit a two-run double in the third.
Fanchier, Morris, Hudson, Christian Jennings and Daniel Harrison had two hits apiece and Brockette one as Lebanon outhit White County 11-8.
Fanchier came in for Ferrell in the fifth and fired three innings of no-hit relief.
The Blue Devils were coming off a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 win at Cookeville on Saturday night.
Lebanon trailed 1-0 entering the top of the seventh inning when Brockette opened with a double and moved to third on Dexter Cross' sacrifice bunt. Cross was safe on a high throw. Ferrell's sacrifice fly tied the score before winning pitcher Jennings moved Cross to third on a hit-and-run single. Harrison squeezed home Cross to put the Blue Devils ahead.
Jennings allowed five hits and struck out nine in seven innings.
Lebanon will wrap up the home-and-home series with White County tonight when the Blue Devils travel to Sparta for a 6 p.m. game.

Friendship's Pryor no-hits Trousdale
While Stephen Pryor was holding visiting Trousdale County hitless Monday, Friendship Christian's hitters made sure his day would be abbreviated with a 10-0 victory.
Eight Commanders crossed the plate in the fourth inning to run-rule the Yellow Jackets as Friendship, winners of eight of its last nine games, moved to 16-11 for the season and 9-0 in District 8-A.
Pryor walked four and struck out nine in Friendship's third no-hitter of the season. Brian Cravens and Brent Boyd had already held an opponent hitless.
Leadoff batter Bryant Alsup tripled and drove in three runs while Brian Cravens doubled among his two hits. Friendship finished with just five hits, but took advantage of five errors, making only two of the Commanders' runs earned.
Friendship will host Christ Presbyterian in a non-district game at 4:30 p.m. today. Former Cumberland catcher Nolan McCue is a first-year assistant coach for the Lions.

Depth emerges as Bears go 7-0 to win Trojan Classic
SODDY-DAISY — Mark Purvis found out over the weekend he has lots of pitching depth as his Mt. Juliet Golden Bears went 7-0 over three days to win the Trojan Classic.
"We knew we were pretty deep, but when you get in the district you rely on your top couple of guys," Purvis said after his Bears improved to 24-9 going into tonight's 7 p.m. home game against Wilson Central. "It was good to see a bunch of guys and everybody on the roster did something to help us win."
Taylor Hill pitched a seven-inning complete game to beat Ooltewah 5-4 Friday to improve to 4-3. The Bears then scored 10 times in the final couple of innings to rout Rhea County 16-6 as Logan Gray got the win with two innings in relief of Travis Boyd.
Gray was the winner again the following morning when Josh Cotham's RBI double in the bottom of the eighth lifted Mt. Juliet to a 7-6 win over Marion County. Caleb Hill and Chase Dalton preceded Gray to the mound.
Taylor Haydel made his varsity pitching debut a memorable one with seven shutout innings in a 9-0 rout of Red Bank to wrap up pool play Saturday night.
B.J. Boston pitched Mt. Juliet to a 9-2 win over Red Bank in Sunday's quarterfinal and Cotham held host Soddy-Daisy in check in a 12-2 semifinal triumph.
Junior right-hander Jake Rodefer was the winner in the finals as Mt. Juliet doubled up Ooltewah 8-4.
Cotham was named tournament Most Valuable Player after going 12-for-21 at the plate with two homers and 14 RBI in addition to his pitching win. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by Rodefer, Tyler Carr and Holden Richmond.