Morristown 9-10 All-Stars fall to Lexington at State Tournament
B
MARYVILLE—Lexington came from behind by scoring six runs in the bottom of the third inning and went on to a 7-3 triumph over Morristown in the Little League 9-10 State Tournament Sunday afternoon.
Morristown scored all its runs in the top of the first and got a runner to third base five times after that but couldn’t get a big hit when it was needed.
Lexington had three really good defensive plays to end the third, fifth and six innings with runners on third base in each instance.
Morristown was back in action on Monday facing Columbia at 6 p.m. in an elimination game.
In Sunday’s other winners bracket game, Lebanon topped Goodlettsville, 6-2. In elimination games, Columbia topped Daniel Boone, 6-2, and Clarksville National blasted Maryville, 18-3.
Morristown outhit the winners by 6-5 but gave up eight walks in the first three innings while Lexington pitchers walked only two with both of those coming in the final inning.
Jaxson Draughn had a triple and Tyson Busler a double for Morristown with both in the top of the first. Jase Hayes, losing pitcher Grayson Cody, David Slagle and Lucas Justice added singles.
Tucker Webb got two hits for Lexington while Carson Allen, Corbin Hosea and Jackson Johnson all added one.
Allen pitched the first five inning to notch the mound victory. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven. Webb pitched the sixth and allowed two walks before the right fielder made a diving catch to end the game.
Morristown manager Cole Draughn said, “We swung the bats well in the first inning and got off to a good start.
“But we gave up some walks and have been uncharacteristic with our defense not making plays the last couple of games,” he added. “We had our chances to score more runs but they made some really good plays and that was the difference.”
“We’ll have to get back on track tomorrow in the losers bracket,” Draughn said. “We talked after the game about playing with effort and energy and that’s what we need to do.”
Jaxson Draughn led off the game with a triple down the left field line and scored the first run when Hayes grounded out to first.
Busler then belted a double to left and scored on Slagle’s hit. Slagle scored the final run on a throwing error.
The winners loaded the bases with one out in the first but didn’t score as Cody got the next batter to pop up and then got a strike out to end the threat.
Lexington got a run without a hit in the second on three bases on balls and a wild pitch.
The third frame was the killer for Morristown. After leaving runners on second and third in the top of the inning, Lexington took advantage of three walks and four singles, two of them infield hits, to take control with six.
Hayes relieved in the middle of the inning and then set the side down in order in the fourth. Quilliams did the same in the fifth but Morristown couldn’t score again leaving a runner at third in the fourth and fifth and at second and third in the sixth.

