LOCAL SPORTS NEWS | Murfreesboro — The Moore County High School Raiders knew last Friday’s state playoff game might be a bit of an uphill battle. Their opponent, the East Robertson Indians, hadn’t allow a single run since game one of the TSSAA Class A State Baseball Tournament and they hadn’t even played their best pitcher much.

Peyton Smith, a senior and Vanderbilt signee, had only pitched one game this post season and the Indians had managed without him. They beat Lake County 10-0 in their first game, beat Summertown 5-0 in their second game, and beat Summertown 1-0 on Thursday to make to the championship game. Indians Head Coach Derek Wix told Main Street Preps that he’d use Smith “at some point” and the only some point left was the game against Moore County. Smith pitched but it wasn’t a locked down performance. Moore County lost the game despite out-hitting the Indians nine to six.

It was a game of missed opportunities for the Raiders. They just couldn’t get the right hits at the right time — leaving runner on in multiple innings.

In the silver lining department, the Raider avoided the shut out. In the top of the seventh inning, Will Harder got a double on a hard line drive into left field. He then stole third base and scored on a error by Indian’s catcher Hobgood to make the score 5-1.

Both Gage Burt and Keller Morey did an excellent job on the mound. Burt pitched four innings allowing just four runs on five hits. Morey pitched the last two allowing one hit and one run while striking out three Indians.

At the plate, four senior Raiders managed two hits each including Ryder Morey, Kyler Parker, Chris Martin, and Kaden White.

The 2021 season made the record books. It marked the first time in the history of MCHS Raider baseball that a team made the Class A State Tournament. The Raiders ended the season with a 22-11-3 overall record and a 9-1 District 8 record. They also added Region 4A winner and state runner up hardware to MCHS trophy case. •

{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.}