River Riders sweep Greeneville

Published 9:05 am Monday, June 12, 2023

STAR CORRESPONDENT

The Elizabethton River Riders displayed plenty of offense once again on Friday night at Northeast Community Credit Union ballpark in a 10-4 win over the Greeneville Flyboys and earn a two game sweep.

Second baseman Ethan Sitzman had a 3-for-3 night with a walk and he also reached on one of four Greeneville errors and had two runs batted in as well.

“We have a great bunch of guys here,” Sitzman said. “There is a camaraderie in the clubhouse as guys genuinely like each other and that makes it fun. I had a long collegiate season as my team went to the playoffs and championship, and I just want to make the most of things at this level.”

River Rider pitching was at the forefront as Kyle Mueller, Andres DeLeon and Hunter Porter retired 16 consecutive Flyboy hitters from the third frame to the eighth.

“Mueller got his ground balls and was pounding the zone,” River Riders manager Jeremy Owens said. “When you are attacking the zone your defense stays awake and you just keep guys in the game. He did a great job going four innings and the rest kept it going. All managers want to win games but my focus is more on seeing guys progress and reach their full potential. Wins are nice but that is not my main focus.”

The Riders (3-1) took command of the game in the second inning scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead. Matty Wright led off with a single and Trey Fenderson walked and with one out Sitzman also drew a free pass.

In his at bat a run came across on a wild pitch and Kerry Herndon-Brown was hit by a pitch to force a run home. Herndon-Brown was plunked on his right ankle bone and did not return as was replaced by D.J. Dillehay.

Elizabethton added three runs in the third to open a 7-2 advantage with Peyton Basler’s base knock driving in a pair of runs and Sitzman’s single brought home another. Keaton Cottam opened the frame with a walk and Skyler King dropped down a two out bunt and beat out the throw to first.

In the sixth catcher Carter Jagiela and Travis Moore Jr. hit back-to-back home runs off Flyboys hurler Colby Lipovsky to make it a 9-2 contest. In the seventh Sitzman’s third hit of the game brought home the last run of the night for the River Riders.

Trevor Callahan got the call to pitch the ninth but ran into trouble with three walks – including walking in a run – and a ground ball out by Tristan Ellis brought home the fourth run of the night for Greeneville.

River Riders 10-4

Greeneville 020 000 002 – 4 5 4

Elizabethton 133 002 10x – 10 7 1

W – Mueller L – Denlinger

HR – Jagiela (1), T. Moore (1).