Published: April 28, 2008 04:18 pm         

Stone rallies late to defeat Rhea County 8-7

Chris Pelfrey doubled and scored on Jon Doran's sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Stone Memorial Panthers an 8-7 win over the Rhea County Golden Eagles Thursday night on Panther field.

With one out, Pelfrey doubled and moved to third on a single by Shane Wood. Jeff Wooll walked to load the bases, followed by Duran's fly to the Golden Eagle left fielder. Pelfrey raced home with the winning run.

The Panthers built a 7-0 lead after five innings, but the Golden Eagles exploded with seven runs, including two three-run homers, in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 7-7.

Justin Patton was the winning pitcher, allowing seven runs on 12 hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

Taylor Kiser ripped a single, double and a homer with three RBIs, while Wooll, Doran, Luke Trivett, Pelfrey and Wood each had one hit. Wooll and Patton also homered.

Cameron Tallent was the losing pitcher, allowing eight runs on nine hits with six strikeouts, and joined teammates Ryne Anderson, Tyler Latham, Devin Paschal and Kenzie Goins with two hits each.

The Panthers took a 1-0 first inning lead, as Patton was hit by a pitch and scored on Kiser's single.

SMHS extended the lead to 4-0 with three solo homers in the third. Wooll belted a one-out shot, and Patton and Kiser went back-to-back with two out jacks.

The Panthers made it 7-0 in the fifth. Wood was hit by a pitch, followed by a one-out single by Doran. Both scored on a two-out double by Kiser, who scored on a double by Trivett.

Tallent then retired the next 11 hitters, before giving up Pelfrey's one-out double in the ninth inning to start the rally.

Tallent opened the game for the Golden Eagles with a double, but Patton would retire the next eight hitters, before walking two men in the third.

Rhea County threatened in the fourth, as Paschal walked and Goins singled, but Goins was picked off trying to swipe second by Panther catcher Cole Stickler. Charlie Hester reached on an error.

In the sixth, Goins walked, Tyler Burton singled and then Hester ripped a three-run homer to slice the lead to 7-3. Tyler Miles reached on an error. Jaime Paul grounded to Devin Pennington, who raced to second base to get Miles and then threw to Kiser at first base to get Paul to complete the double play.

With two out,Tallent and Anderson each then poked a single. Both scored on Latham's dinger to slice the lead to 7-6. Paschal doubled and scored on a double by Goins, who was picked off attempting to swipe third base.

Patton gave up a two-out single in the eighth, and retired the side in order in both the seventh and ninth innings to earn the win.

•Also, Stone defeated Scott County Tuesday 9-5 in Huntsville to complete the home-and-home sweep of the Highlanders to finish 3-9 in the District 4AA.

The two wins extended the Panthers' winning streak to five games and improved their record to 7-15 overall.

SMHS travel Warren County today and close out the regular season Wednesday at Cookeville.

The District 4AA Tournament begins May 2.