Cyclones edge Sullivan East 2-1 in District 1-AAA opener behind Slagle’s gem
Published 2:44 pm Friday, May 2, 2025
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone right fielder Marshall Holtsclaw tracks down a fly ball for an out.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Elizabethton battery mates, pitcher Rhett Slagle and catcher JD Hooks, talk over the next pitching sequence.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Elizabethton’s Evan Chambers is caught stealing on a bang-bang play at second base.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone starting pitcher Rhett Slagle had a whale of a game Thursday, tossing a 13-strikeout, four-walk performance to pick up a 2-1 win over Sullivan East in the District 1-AAA baseball contest played at Thomas Stadium on the campus of ETSU.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone pinch runner Logan Campbell makes it back easily to first base on a pickoff attempt.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Elizabethton head coach Michael Corn has a chat with his pitcher and infielders after the Patriots loaded the bases on walks early in Thursday’s contest.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone shortstop Evan Chambers throws to first for an out after making a dandy stop on a ball hit sharply up the middle.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Cyclone batter Jack Blevins prepares to take a cut at a pitch during action Thursday against Sullivan East.
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Star Correspondent
JOHNSON CITY — The Elizabethton Cyclones began their defense of the District 1-AAA regular-season baseball title with a tightly contested 2-1 victory over Sullivan East on Thursday evening at Thomas Stadium on the campus of East Tennessee State University.
In a game that featured all its scoring in the opening frame, pitching took center stage the rest of the way. Both teams struck quickly in the first inning, but it was Elizabethton that maintained its early edge behind a dominant performance from right-hander Rhett Slagle.
The Patriots grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Peyton Lingerfelt opened the game with a double to right field. Luke Blevins followed with a single to left, putting runners on the corners. Zach Johnson drove in Lingerfelt on a fielder’s choice to give East an early advantage.
Elizabethton responded in the home half of the frame. Brayden Buckles led off with a triple to right, and Bryson Rowland followed with an RBI single to tie the game. Rowland then stole second and moved to third on a single by Steven Meadows. JD Hooks delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Rowland to score what proved to be the game-winning run.
From that point forward, it was a duel between Slagle and Blevins. The Cyclone ace went the distance, striking out 13 while surrendering just three hits, four walks and one earned run in a seven-inning complete game effort. Blevins matched him with six strong innings for Sullivan East, allowing eight hits and two earned runs without walking a batter or recording a strikeout.
Slagle and Hooks led Elizabethton offensively with two hits apiece. Buckles, Rowland, Meadows and Marshall Holtsclaw also contributed with one hit each. Lingerfelt accounted for two of East’s three hits, with Blevins collecting the other.
With the win, Elizabethton advanced to Friday night’s winner’s bracket matchup against Tennessee High, who defeated Unicoi County 3-1 in their tournament opener. Sullivan East will face Unicoi County in a loser’s bracket elimination game following the Cyclones-Vikings contest.
