On to the Quarterfinals!

MARYVILLE - They've done it all year and did it again. The Fightin' Scots came from behind to defeat Covenant 8-6 to advance to the quarterfinal round of the CCS Tournament. 

An exciting first quarter saw MC in a 4-0 hole before their first at-bat. Five straight hits for Covenant, including a triple, led to the blue Scots taking the early lead. Maryville countered with a three-run inning of their own. Reece Jordan led off the inning with a single up the middle and was followed by three straight doubles by Colin Dunworth, Ashton Whiteaker, and Frank Derner. Dunworth, Jordan, and Whiteaker all scored in the inning to make it a 4-3 game. 

Neither team added a run in the second, but Covenant scored one in the third. After that, both teams were silent until the seventh inning. 

Covenant added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a hard-hit chopper to third base. 6-3 Covenant.



The Scots would explode in the bottom of the eighth for FIVE runs on six hits. Maryville was able to get eight straight batters on base on six singles, a fielder's choice, and a walk. Frank Derner, Ashton Whiteaker, Nick Curry, Brayden Evans, and Hunter Thaxton, would all score in the inning, giving the Scots an 8-6 lead with only one frame left for Covenant. 

Relief Pitcher Xavier Resto was able to get Maryville the win, striking out one, and getting two batters out on a ground out and a fly out. He did allow a triple in the inning, adding to the dramatics, but proved to not be an issue. 



After a busy first inning, starting pitcher Nic Mirabella would go on to pitch five more innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs, getting an impressive nine total strikeouts for a season-high. He threw 115 pitches for his second-highest pitch count of the season. 

Coach Helton continues to stress the process. "We don't chase results," Helton said. "It's all about the process and getting 27 outs. That's all there is to it."

With the Scots' victory, the team has won 31 contests this season, breaking the school record set last season (30). The Scots will face the loser of Piedmont vs. LaGrange tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.