Sectional berth eludes UCHS baseball, Blue Devil softball team takes district title

The Unicoi County baseball team was a win away after opening the Region 1-2A tournament with a 6-5 defeat of Eagleton Academy on Friday at Pigeon Forge, but a second straight sectional berth wasn't in the cards. The Blue Devils fell 4-1 to Pigeon Forge in the region final on Saturday afternoon, and lost 13-7 to Eagleton Academy when the second sectional berth was at stake on Saturday night. Although the season ended one step further away from the state tournament than last year, 12th-year head coach Chad Gillis said the season concluded with a better feeling in his gut than when the Blue Devils let a state berth slip away last year in the sectional. "It's a very different feeling than it was last year," Gillis said. "I felt like we gave it away last year. I don't doubt that we left it all on the field in that game this year." The season's end marks the conclusion of Kolby Jones' brilliant career. Fittingly, Jones pitched six innings for the victory in the Blue Devils' 6-5 defeat of Eagleton Academy on Friday. He also went 8-for-11 and scored five runs in the region. "Kolby's one of those – and I think I said this about Shaddon Peavyhouse – he's just one in a generation," Gillis said. "He can do everything. Man, he got hot with the bat, and they couldn't get him out. "Kolby really turned it on offensively, and he played great defense, too. And he was a leader." Whether he was playing football, basketball or baseball, Jones was always quick to deflect praise. "He's humble, and I think that's what makes him so good," Gillis said. "And he continues to work. He's never satisfied, and that's hard to find, because when some kids his age get the success that he's had, they feel like they're there. But he just continues to work." The Unicoi County softball team remains alive in the quest to advance into state tournament play and encountered no resistance en route to a District 1-2A title last week. The Blue Devil softball team defeated West Greene 19-0 in the semifinals and cruised past South Greene, 20-0, in the championship. East Tennessee State signee Lela Byrd continued her remarkable season. Byrd pitched a two-hitter while going 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs. Byrd was also dominant in the finale. She pitched a one-hitter and went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and five RBIs. The home run in the championship was her 24th of the season, which broke Tiffany Laughren's school record. Kyndal Engle (Milligan University) went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs against West Greene. Aaliyah Engle was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two steals and a home run. Carly Baxter (2-for-2, RBI, double, stolen base) and Emmi Linkous (2-for-3, walk, RBI) were also productive. Kianna Woodward (Walters State) was 3-for-5 with a home run, a stolen base and five RBIs in the championship game. Aaliyah Engle went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Linkous was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Kaley Toney homered and drove in four runs. Unicoi County was scheduled to open region play at home against Claiborne on Monday. As for Blue Devil baseball, the Blue Devils can look back with some pride on several feats, including going undefeated in the Three Rivers Conference and running the table in the District 1-2A tournament. But the goal was to do more. "We knew going into the region that it was gonna be a fight, but I knew with the team we had we could most definitely get it done," Jones said. "We have battled all year and I hate to see it end like it did. But God has a plan and I am just blessed to have been a part of this team – not just this year, but all four years." Oddly enough, Gillis' 200th career victory came when Jones recorded the final victory of his career. "I cannot express what Coach Gillis has done for me and this team," Jones said. "The things he does for us is one of the biggest reasons we made it to where we were, and were even a contender of where we wanted to make it. The bond and fight we had almost made it feel like we could beat anybody. I am gonna miss these dudes a lot." Tucker Peterson came on pitched a shutdown seventh in the win against Eagleton. He struck out two during the perfect frame. Angel Delgado went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Senior Isaac Harris pitched impressively in the 4-1 loss to Pigeon Forge. He pitched a complete game. He also went 1-for-3 with an RBI. "I felt really good about Isaac throwing that game," Gillis said. "Isaac did a great job. I couldn't have asked anything more out of him in that Pigeon Forge game." Catcher Reid Bogart went 2-for-3 with three runs, a walk and a double in the season-ending loss to Eagleton. Broox Bennett made an exceptional catch in center field, and Daven Thompson made a difficult catch in right field. Parting with the seniors will be difficult. "Kolby has been Kolby," he said. "Isaac Harris has played a tremendous first base for two years, and I think he's 8-2. We have to replace him on the mound. "Angel played with a hurt arm all year – again, just laying it on the line, giving everything you've got. And they told us he wouldn't be able to play." Asher Wainwright had a solid career on the mound. "I'm proud of Asher," Gillis said. "He did everything he could for us." The Blue Devils finished with a 24-11 record. Arguably the best win of the season was a victory at Science Hill, which is still alive in Class 4A. "That senior group beat Science Hill twice in four years," Gillis said. "I don't know when that'd happened last." Gillis also commended senior Gabe King. "I'm gonna miss those seniors in a big way, but I miss every year's seniors in a big way," Gillis said. "We are really tight here. … I couldn't tell you about 200 wins or whoever it was we beat, but I can tell you who played for me."