FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. — Shut outs are rare. Back-to-back shut outs against a district opponent … those are special and that’s exactly what the Moore County Raiders managed this week against their district rival, the Fayetteville Tigers.
On Tuesday, Moore County beat the Tigers by a final score of 2-0 in Lynchburg. Jacob Baker got the shut out and the win in that match up — throwing 87 total pitches and 64 strikes. He sat down nine total batters. On Wednesday, Keller Morey got the win and the shut out in Lincoln County. He threw 88 pitches and 54 strikes – sending eight Tiger batters back to the dugout empty handed. He also caught all four ground and fly balls that torpedoed his way.
Neither team managed much offense in the first inning. The Raiders got a walk and then three consecutive strikes in their first at bat and the Tigers went three up and three down.
In the second inning, Blakely Bobo got to first base on a walk and then the Tiger pitcher hit Landon Smith at the plate to advance him as well. With runners on first and second, Will Parker doubled on a line drive to center field allowing both Bobo and Smith to score. With Parker on second base, Keller Morey singled on a ground ball to the short stop. Parker crossed home plate giving Moore County an early 3-0 lead. The Tiger pitcher then hit the next two Raider batters – advancing both Peyton Martin and Connor Partin. On the next at bat, Jacob Baker popped out but not before Morey scored on a passed ball to make it 4-0.
The Tigers could not produce much offense in the bottom of the second with two walks, a strike out, and out at second thanks to Aiden Webster.
In the top of the third, Izaac Patterson went to the mound with bases loaded: Aiden Webster on third on a single, Blakely Bobo on second on a walk, and Will Parker on first off a walk. Patterson bunted and scampered to first – allowing Webster and Bobo to make their way across home plate to give Moore County a 6-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Tiger pitcher walked Jacob Baker. On the next at bat, the Tigers managed to strike out Aiden Webster but not before Baker stole second base, third base, and home plate for Raider score number seven. Moore County’s final points of the game came in the top of the fifth inning when Baker doubled on a fly ball to the Tiger left fielder – scoring Izaac Patterson and Peyton Martin.
Izaac Patterson, Keller Morey, Jacob Baker, Aiden Webster, and Will Parker all got hits for Moore County. Baker also led with three stolen bases and two RBIs.
The Raiders will begin play in the Yellow Jacket Classic Tournament at Lookout Valley High School on Thursday. They face off with Lookout Valley on Thursday, Coalfield and Harriman on Friday, and yet-to-be-determined opponent on Saturday in the finals. They resume district play next Tuesday against Cornersville. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg. 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.}