Hiwassee Dam – Entering its March 29 game against Copper Basin, Tenn., Hiwassee Dam baseball had struggled to score. The Eagles had scored just five runs in six games and hadn’t scored more than two runs in a game.
That changed in a big way against the Cougars, as Hiwassee Dam jumped all over their cross-state rivals in a 17-2, five-inning “mercy rule” win.
“The improvement that we’ve had since our first game has been pretty incredible,” head coach Tommy Strickland said. “Guys have come together, done a good job and got a great pitching performance today – like we did last week – and they put the bat on the ball and moved the runners. That’s all you can ask from your team.”
The Eagles (2-5 overall) snapped a five-game losing streak. They previously beat Cherokee 2-1 in the first game of a season-opening doubleheader on March 15.
This is Strickland’s first year as the Hiwassee Dam baseball coach, and he wasn’t quite aware of how big the rivalry with Copper Basin is. Copper Basin (1-5) is just 17 miles from the school, making it closer to Hiwassee Dam than any school in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Seth Hooper on the mound and Trenten Beavers behind the plate set the tone in the top of the first. Though Hooper hit Isaac Deal to start the game, he struck out the next two batters.
Deal advanced to third on a stolen base and passed ball, but Beavers picked him off at the bag to end the inning. Beavers threw out three runners, including Deal to end the game in the top of the fifth.
“Having a catcher that can throw like Trenten Beavers can makes a huge difference for our team,” Strickland said.
“He threw three runners out today at second, he’s thrown four or five previously at second. He’s thrown runners out at first and third. He’s not afraid to throw the ball, he’s accurate and he gives a boost of confidence to the guys.”
The Eagles scored two in the bottom of the first off of a Copper Basin error, then four more in the second on a two-run single by Dawson Headley and another
Cougars error. Hiwassee Dam had 12 hits, but also took advantage of 13 Copper Basin walks and two hit batters.
Three more came home in the third. Carson Taylor singled home Kyle Taylor to push the lead to 7-0. He would later score on a fielder’s choice by Tanner Taylor, and Clay Davis would score on an RBI single from Hooper.
After Copper Basin got on the board in the top of the fourth with two runs, the Eagles answered back with 8 to put the game into mercy rule territory. They chased Cougars started Addison Hook with one out in the inning and an 11-2 lead, then added six more off Landon Allen and Cade Dean.
“We worked really hard on making contact, putting the bat on the ball,” Strickland said. “They weren’t nearly as timid as they have been about swinging the bat. They got out there, they did their work, they put the ball in play and good things happen when you do that.”
Even with the lopsided score and Copper Basin’s struggles, the coach thinks his team is taking steps forward. The Eagles have just one senior and two juniors on the roster, so more playing time and experience playing the way Strickland wants them to can only help.
“They’re a bunch of young guys learning the game,” he said. “Learning to play the way I want them to, and we’re getting better because of that.”
Hiwassee Dam got another win two days later against Towns County, Ga., 6-5. After taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Indians (5-10) rallied to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh before the Eagles scored two in the bottom of the seventh to win the game. Towns County previously beat Hiwassee Dam 4-0 on March 17.
The Eagles have a busy week this week. They traveled to Andrews on Tuesday, which took place after this week’s edition of the Cherokee Scout went to press, then host the Wildcats in a doubleheader Friday. In between, they travel to Copper Basin on Thursday.