KC Eagles Down Canton

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 By David Sharp 

Knox County took a three run first inning lead during April 14, non conference baseball action with Canton leading to a 12-6 win. The Eagles improved to 8-4 on the season. Rylan Roberts was 4-4 at bat with two runs scored and two more batted in. 

Kellen Parrish turned in a 6 2/3 inning pitching performance, striking out seven with two walks on six hits. Three of the six Canton runs were earned. “We got some hits when we had runners on base,” Knox County coach David Cameron said. 

“The top of our lineup was pretty good again with Rylan (Roberts) having four hits. Kellen (Parrish) didn’t have his best stuff on the mound,” Coach Cameron said. “He was pretty good without his best stuff.” 

Knox County sent 11 batters to the plate during a six run third inning. Braxton McCurren delivered a key two out, three RBI double. An error, a hit batsman and four third inning walks aided the Eagle rally. 

“I was thinking to it something into the left field gap,” Braxton McCurren said. “Take something that way. I hit the ball into the dirt and ended up going down the right field line. It ended up clearing the bases.” 

“I got lucky, I’ll say that. They have always been good,” Braxton McCurren said of the 4-2 Tigers. “We played them in the district championship game my sophomore year. We know they can play. These guys are competitive and well coached.” 

Canton is a district opponent. The home win for Knox County might be helpful during the upcoming district seed meeting. “It doesn’t matter what seed we get,” Braxton McCurren said. “Once we get to the tournament, we have got to play.” 

Canton reliever Kaden Oliver walked in two runs before Braxton McCurren delivered his big third inning hit. The Tigers countered Knox County’s three run opening salvo with a four score second inning. 

Brendon Welker stroked a two run, one out hit. Blake Bringer reached on an error leading off the Canton second inning. Lucien Collins stroked a two out RBI hit for a 4-3 Tiger lead after an inning and a half. 

Cooper Clair drew a leadoff walk off Canton starter Drew Gottman in the bottom of the second inning. Rylan Roberts drove Clair home with a two out game tying hit. Knox County left the bases loaded after Robert Dooley singled and Braxton McCurren walked. 

Knox County led 10-4 after three full innings. Robert Dooley reached Tiger reliever Blake Bringer for a two run double, scoring Christian Campbell and Cooper Clair in the Eagle sixth inning. 

Canton put two more runs on the board in their fifth inning. Lucien Collins singled leading off the Tiger fifth. After Preston Brewer reached on a fielder’s choice, Blake Bringer singled home a run. Kaden Oliver lofted a sacrifice fly, scoring Brewer for the sixth Canton run. 

Knox County had to hold off a determined seventh inning Canton rally. Drew Gottman reached base on an error leading off the final inning. Blake Bringer doubled, putting Tigers on second and third base with one out. 

Kellen Parrish reached his pitch limit, bringing Braxton McCurren to the mound. McCurren struck out the first batter he faced. The John Wood CC baseball bound lefty walked Kaden Oliver then fanned the last Tiger batter for the 12-6 win. 

Canton scored six runs on eight hits. Lucien Collins was 2-3 for Canton with two RBI’s. Brendon Welker had a hit and two RBI’s. Drew Gottman and Blake Bringer had two hits each. 

Blake Bringer pitched three and a third innings of four hit relief. Bringer struck out three men. Canton pitchers fanned eight Eagles on the night. Eleven total walks helped the home team’s cause. 

“We needed that one after what happened (Monday) night at Scotland County,” Rylan Roberts said. “They embarrassed us. We didn’t come ready to play. You lose one game, and you don’t want to lose the second one. You just want to get that streak started back up.” 

“I think we needed that one as a team,” Rylan Roberts said. Knox County scored 12 runs on eight hits. Rylan Roberts was 4-4 at bat with two runs scored and two batted in. Robert Dooley was 2-3 with two runs scored and three batted in. Braxton McCurren had a double and three RBI’s. 

Kellen Parrish pitched six and a third innings of eight hit baseball for the win. Kellen Parrish struck out seven batters with two walks. Three of the six Canton runs were earned.