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FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Elizabethton Jr. Cyclone 9U baseball team captured the 2021 USSSA October Classic Championship in Kingsport by defeating the Thunder in the championship contest by a 14-13 score.

In the championship game, it was a back and forth affair with just a single run separating the teams for most of the game.

Aaron Shelby started the game on the pitcher’s mound for the Jr. Cyclones and went a solid three innings while giving up six earned runs with six strikeouts against the number one nationally-ranked Thunder.

The Thunder trailed by two entering the last inning and Holden Hopson led off the frame with a smash to left-center for a triple off of Carter Birdsong.

Silas Lingerfelt followed with a run-scoring triple over the right fielder’s head and scored on a throwing error to third base. Birdsong then set down the next three batters on a groundout to shortstop, a strikeout, and a fly out to left field.

With time running out, the Jr. Cyclones came up in the bottom of the fifth with the score knotted at 13-13. The Thunder recorded an out on a strikeout.

Hayden Isaacs came to the dish and drew a base on balls. Isaacs took second on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt. Isaacs proceeded to steal third base standing just 60 feet away for the win.

Easton Snyder was at bat and had a 2-1 count and took the following pitch for a flare single into right field for the walk-off win.

Overall, the team went 4-0 over the weekend making the team 21-4-1 for the season. The 9U Jr. Cyclones are currently ranked sixth in the state and 12th nationally in the USSSA.

In pool play, the Jr. Cyclones won 12-7 over the Boone Blaze with Drake Lytton and Isaacs going 1-for-2 while Adam Shelby allowed no earned runs with one strikeout and one hit in his only inning pitched.

The Jr. Cyclones also defeated the Virginia Ice 14-8 as Lytton and Birdsong went 2-for-2 at the plate with Carter recording two RBI’s. Lytton pitched two innings in the win ringing up four strikeouts while allowing three hits and one walk.

Entering bracket play, the Jr. Cyclones squared off with the Ice once again and won the contest 9-2. Birdsong and Parker Chambers batted 1-for-1 with Birdsong notching two RBI’s. Elisha Diaz finished the contest 1-for-2 with an RBI as well.

Isaacs pitched three innings striking out six and walking three while allowing only one hit. Cole Berry pitched an inning recording two strikeouts and walking two while allowing no hits.