LYNNVILLE, Tenn. — The Moore County Raider Baseball team seems to be peaking at just the right time. They secured a 5-3 win over the Richland Raiders on MOnday. Moore County trailed by one run after the second inning but pulled ahead by two in the fifth and held on down the stretch.

The win earns Moore County a spot in the Region 5A Baseball Tournament on Wednesday. They also punched their ticket for a TSSAA sectional (substate) game for the second year in a row.

Moore County pulls ahead for good in the fifth inning

The Raiders managed a walk by Will Penn to get the first inning started. Keller Morey then hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Penn to third base. On the fourth at bat, Peyton Martin singled on a line drive to the center fielder scoring Penn for the first Raider RBI of the game. On the Richland at bat, Jacob Baker allowed one hit before the other Raiders hit a ground out, pop out, and fly out to end the inning. After one, Moore County led 1-0.

Moore County couldn’t get much offense going in the second inning. On the Richland at bat, they managed two runs: one off a triple from Andrew Turner and a second when Baker balked and permitted Colton Trimble to score. At the end of the second inning, Richland led 2-1.

Neither team scored in the third inning. Then, in the top of the fourth, Moore County pulled even when Aiden Webster ground into a fielder’s choice but not before Peyton Martin – who hit a double two at bats earlier – sprinted across home plate. Will Parker then popped out on the next at bat but not before Jacob Baker scored on a error by the Richland shortstop — giving Moore County a 3-2 lead.

Moore County took final control of the game on the top of the fifth inning. The Richland pitcher walked four straight Moore County batters, then on the fifth at bat, Will Harder scored by stealing home – giving the Columbia blue Raiders a more comfortable two run lead. One play later, Connor Partin lined out to right field but not before Peyton Martin stole home for the final Moore County points of the game.

Richland added one run in the bottom of the fifth inning but it wasn’t enough. Moore County did not allow a single hit in the final two innings.

Jacob Baker got the start and the win for Moore County. He threw 103 pitches including 64 strikes and sat down six Richland batters. Peyton Martin led for the Raiders with two hits followed by Connor Partin and Will Parker with a hit each. Multiple Moore County players stole bases including Will Harder (3), Peyton Martin (3). Jacob Baker (2), as well as Hayden Carter and Will Penn with one each.

The Region A Championship will be played at Eagleville High School on Wednesday at 6 p.m. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally-owned newspaper in Lynchburg and also the only woman-owned newspaper in Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}