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FROM STAFF REPORTS
It was the day that most prep baseball players and coaches have been waiting for as the first game of opening day 2021 took place on Monday at baseball diamonds across East Tennessee.

The Elizabethton Cyclones made the short ride to cross-town rival Happy Valley to get the season started for both teams as Elizabethton brought the big sticks with them to Cannon-Gouge Park roughing up the host Warriors 14-0 in five innings of play.

After scoring two runs in the top of the first, the Cyclones erupted for six runs in the second and four runs in the third to help force the mercy-rule for the contest at the end of the fifth inning.

EHS got rolling when Noah Rosato drove in Jaden Anderson and Bryson Rollins on a double to stake the Cyclones to a 2-0 lead.

In the second, the Cyclones continued with the hot bats as Cade Russell, Ashton Wilson, Anderson, Rosato, Zak Workman, and Elijah Birdsong sent runners across the plate with RBIs in the frame.

While the Cyclone bats were thumping, head coach Ryan Presnell was getting an outstanding performance on the pitching rubber from Wilson and Birdsong allowed only one hit between them as Wilson allowed no runs on one hit over three innings recording six strikeouts and two walks while Birdsong slammed the door down the stretch out of the bullpen recording five strikeouts without a walk.

Rosato and Wilson finished with three hits apiece to stoke the 14-hit effort for Elizabethton. Workman finished with two hits.

Rollins scored four runs in the game for the Cyclones.

Hunter Smith took the loss on the hill for the Warriors working 2.1 innings allowing eight hits, 11 runs, striking out one, and walking three. Bryce Soloman came on in relief allowing six hits, three runs, three strikeouts, and no walks.

Warrior centerfielder Andrew Little picked up the only base hit of the game for the Warriors.

The teams hooked back up on Tuesday evening at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.