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JEFFERSON CITY – Triple headers in baseball are both rare and grueling but for the Cherokee Chiefs’ baseball team, it all paid off.

The Chiefs fought off a furious comeback by Claiborne in Saturday’s first game of the district tournament and won a pitchers dual with Grainger in game two before finally running out of steam in the district championship game against Greeneville. After playing 21 innings in less than 12 hours, Cherokee plays on as the win over the Grizzlies qualified them for next week’s regional tournament in the Tri-Cities.

“I am so proud of our team and so proud of our program,” Chiefs’ skipper Drew Patterson said after Saturday’s marathon at Carson-Newman. “We fought so hard to get here and it’s so rewarding to see our kids get here with all the hard work they put in. We are playing hard right now and that’s what it’s all about. Our team just didn’t want to go home today.”

After building an 8-1 lead in the fourth inning, the Chiefs saw Claiborne come storming back to pull to within one run with six runs in the fifth but Cherokee was able to escape with three outs in the seventh inning to advance to face Grainger with an 8-7 win. That’s where pitcher Parker Travis turned in a performance that will be talked about for a long time in Rogersville. Travis went the distance, yielding only four hits and striking out seven Grizzlies as the Chiefs beat Grainger 2-1. Brady Smith was masterful on the hill for Grainger as he pitched a complete-game one-hitter with two walks and 14 strikeouts.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning. Jake Elliott worked a walk to lead the game off, stole second, went to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a passed ball. Grainger answered in the bottom of the first with a run of their own. Jaxon Maxey reached on a fielders choice and then scored on Smith’s double to center field. The Grizzlies had a prime opportunity to take the lead in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with no one out. Brayden Christian and Landon Dalton both walked and Bryson Davis laid down a perfect bunt to load the bags. But Travis was able to work out of the jam by retiring the next three Grainger batters to keep the game tied 1-1.

Aiden Webb hit a triple to right field to lead off the fifth inning and a few plays later, Cherokee took advantage of a costly error by the Grizzlies. The Chiefs sent Webb from third on a bunt attempt by Will Price but an error in the infield allowed Webb to score safely and put Price eventually at second base. The 2-1 lead was all Travis needed as Grainger only had baserunners twice the rest of the way.

“It was a difficult situation and we didn’t execute the best,” Grainger head coach Garrett Yates said after his team’s disappointing loss. “Their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off balance and we didn’t make adjustments and that’s my fault. Brady worked really hard, threw well and definitely deserved a better outcome but that’s baseball. I’m real proud of these seniors and these upperclassmen as they do a lot of good things. We had some people come out this year and surprised us and made a difference for our team. I am proud of all of our guys.”

Having already punched their ticket to the regional tournament and with a very depleted pitching staff, the Chiefs fell victim to top-seeded Greeneville and lost in the tourney finals, 8-1. Greeneville scored six of their eight runs in the third and Cherokee continued to put up a fight in the game. The lone Chiefs’ run was in the fourth when Price reached on a fielders’ choice and later came home on Gavin Housewright’s single to left field. Greene Devil pitcher Parker Shipley had 13 K’s in the game.

“We were arm depleted having to play five games in the district tournament but our young guys came in and did a fantastic job keeping us in it,” Patterson said of the final game against Greeneville. “We made them play us all seven innings and to make it to the regional for only the second time in school history was our goal all year. We accomplished that goal and also broke the school record for wins in a single season. I’m proud of my boys as they went through a gauntlet playing three games but I wouldn’t have had it any other way and I don’t think they would have either.”

After the finals of the district tournament, post-season honors were handed out. Brady Smith was named the district Co-Player of the Year and Claiborne’s Tyler Myatt and Cole Putnal from Cherokee shared Hitter of the Year accolades. Jake Elliott was the Co-Newcomer of the Year, Claiborne’s Dylan Foster won the Gold Glove Award, Cocke County’s Sway Holt was the Catcher of the Year and Dr. Stephen Foster from Claiborne was named Co-Coach of the Year.

Making the All-District team from Grainger was Braden Christian, Trever Johnson, Kade Lucas and Landon Dalton. Cherokee’s Keaton Lawson, Brady Leroy, Parker Travis and Aiden Webb were All-District selections as were Joe Houser and Ty Pryse from Claiborne and Isaac Dorsey and Dylan Jackson from Cocke County. Honorable mention selection included Ryland Burchett (Grainger), Jaxon Maxey (Grainger), Tyler Lawson (Cherokee), Will Price (Cherokee), Tyler Holt (Claiborne), Derek Mase (Claiborne), Evan Thomas (Claiborne), Zeke Cortez (Cocke County) and Trent Leas (Cocke County).