By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER

MCKENZIE, Tenn. — On the heels of finding out that their head coach, Randy Morey, is now cancer free, the Moore County High School Raiders left it all on the field on Wednesday – beating McKenzie 5-3 in game two of a best-of-three series to force a game three today. It will be winners-take-all as they face off at 5:30 p.m.in McKenzie. The winner will win a spot in a TSSAA 2025 Class 1A State Tournament.

Raiders lost 6-3 in game one

McKenzie came out swinging in game one and put up four runs in the bottom of the first inning to pull ahead early. Moore County managed one run in the third inning, and two in the fifth but couldn’t catch up.

Colton Morey led in game one with two RBIs from the number nine spot in the line up and was one-for-three in the game. Morey, Cole Taylor, and Blakely Bobo each collected a hit each. The determined duo of Morey and Taylor also notched multiple stolen bases from the base path.

Morey and Aiden Webster each pitched three innings each.

Moore County wins game two 5-3

In game two, Cole Taylor put on a pitching clinic – notching 11 strikeouts and surrendering just four hits and three runs over seven innings to help Moore County win 5-3.

The Raiders got on the board in the bottom of the second thanks to a solo home run from Ethan Walls and a double from Taylor to take an early 3-0 lead. They also added runs in the third and fourth innings.

In addition to his all star pitching, Taylor led for the day with three RBIs on two hits. Peyton Martin and Walls also managed a hit each. Blakely Bobo and Taylor continue their base heists with two more stolen bases in game two.

If you can’t make the long, familiar drive to McKenzie on Wednesday, you can keep up with the Raiders game on the GameChanger app or watch live on the NFHS Network. •

{The Lynchburg Times is a non-partisan, locally owned and locally operated community newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee and one of the few women-owned newspapers in the state. It’s owned by a native and Tulane University-educated journalist with over 20 years of experience. It’s supported by both readers and community partners who believe in independent journalism for the common good. You can support us by clicking here.}