Science Hill puts brakes on Cyclones’ 12-game win streak
Published 11:18 am Friday, April 4, 2025
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclones starting pitcher Brayden Buckles prepares to deliver a pitch to the plate.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton second baseman Jack Blevins (left) and first baseman Justin Whitehead (right) barely avoid a collision going for a pop fly in the infield. The ball was caught for the out.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclones first baseman Justin Whitehead dives back safely to first base on a pickoff attempt.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton second baseman Jack Blevins just barely avoids a high-and-tight pitch.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclones shortstop Evan Chambers takes a hefty cut at a pitch. Chambers had the lone hit for Elizabethton on the day.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclones head coach Mike Corn gives home plate umpire Dale Ford the changes he was making in the inning.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Justin Whitehead slides in safely headfirst ahead of the throw from Science Hill’s catcher at second base.
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Star Correspondent
The Elizabethton Cyclone baseball team has been on a tear as of late, winning 12 straight games, including two big conference games over Tennessee High with 8-5 and 4-0 wins.
Thursday at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark, the Cyclones were looking to make it a baker’s dozen over the visiting Science Hill Hilltoppers on a beautiful, sunny evening for baseball.
Unfortunately, the only cloud in the sky for the Cyclones was a dominant effort from the visitors that resulted in a 7-0 shutout that put a screeching halt to the run.
Riding the pitching efforts of starter Sam Royston and a solid relief effort from Levi Torbett, the ‘Toppers didn’t even let Elizabethton have a sniff of a comeback effort. Royston worked five innings from the mound, striking out five and walking one, while Torbett finished the last two frames with a strikeout of his own.
Both teams played solid baseball in the early innings, as Science Hill drew first blood in the top of the first inning when leadoff batter Lucas Dye smoked a double to left field. Dye scored when Aiden Vermillion picked him up for a 1-0 lead.
The Cyclones looked to pull even in the bottom of the second inning, loading the bases with two outs before Royston managed to fan Evan Chambers to end the threat.
All hopes for a rally were cut short in the top of the fourth, as Cyclone pitching struggled to find the laser-thin strike zone of home plate umpire Dale Ford, resulting in five walks issued to the ‘Toppers.
As a result, Science Hill pinned five runs on the board, making it a 6-0 ballgame — more than enough for the ‘Topper pitching staff.
The Cyclones managed only one hit in the game, coming off the bat of Chambers.
Brayden Buckles was the starter for the Cyclones on the mound and pitched three innings, recording three strikeouts and two hits allowed.
Cole Krawczyk threw one-third of an inning for the Cyclones, and Elijah Ambrose closed out the final 3 2/3 innings for Elizabethton.
Dye and Vermillion accounted for two hits apiece out of the six hits recorded by Science Hill batters.
Each team committed an error in the game.
