CHATTANOOGA, TN – No. 1 Walters State looked like a team with one goal in mind all week and, on Thursday, they completed that goal.
The Senators scored four runs in the first two innings against Dyersburg State in the TCCAA/Region VII Championship and held on, taking down the Eagles 7-4.
With the win, Walters State moved to 55-5 on the season. It was the fourth-straight full season that the Senators have won the conference and region titles. It was the Senators 14th Region VII Title in school history.
The Senators ran the table, winning all four games of the tournament by a combined score of 38-9.
"That was huge," Walters State coach Dave Shelton said. "I told our guys that we can't come in thinking that they have to beat us twice. We needed to finish it today so that we didn't give them momentum and had our pitching set for next week (district tournament).
"Credit to Dyersburg. They did a heck of a job coming out of the loser's bracket. They battled. For us to finish it today was huge."
Walters State center fielder Dalton McLain was named the MVP of the tournament after his solid play in center field and eight hits at the plate and four RBIs.
"I was feeling good and trying to stay on top of the ball and hit line drives," McLain said. "I was trying to use my speed as an advantage."
On Thursday, McLain led the way at the plate with two hits and knocked in a run.
"He was huge this week," Shelton said. "It was all the little things like getting bunts down at the right time and getting hits at the right time. We have a lot of guys that can hit it out of the park and that can be huge but to have a guy like Dalton that plays the defense that he plays and does all the little things is huge. To see him have this week and win MVP, I was happy for him."
Along with McLain, Colby Backus and Corbin Shaw came up with huge hits in the seventh inning. Up 5-4, Backus gave them a much-needed insurance run with his third home run of the tournament. Then, following a fielder's choice from Kory Klingenbeck, Shaw smoked a double with two outs into the right-center gap to score Klingenbeck and make it 7-4.
On the mound, Wesley Scott got the start and threw three innings, allowing two runs, one earned on five hits and struck out three. Landon Crumbley replaced Scott in the fourth and picked up the win with four innings of work. He allowed two runs on four hits and struck out four.
In the eighth, Crumbley made way for Geo Rivera who closed the game out with two innings of work.
"I wanted the ball in that moment," Rivera said. "I've been waiting all year for that moment. I was ready for it."
Initially a starter for the Senators, Rivera moved to the bullpen right at the start of conference play. In that role, Rivera has been lights out with an ERA of under one and 73 strikeouts in 47 innings of work.
For Rivera, coming into high-pressured situations is something he thrives in.
"As a young kid, I was an outfielder but always came into pitch for my dad in tough situations," Rivera said. "I always wanted the ball and that has continued through high school, travel ball and whenever. Every time there is a clutch situation, I want the ball and want to get it done."
On Thursday, Rivera allowed just one hit in his two innings of work and struck out two to get the job done.
"You feel really good about having a guy like him," Shelton said. "We're pretty fortunate. There aren't a lot of coaches in the country that have a back-end arm like Geo. He's just so solid. He settled in today and did a great job."
All three pitchers were helped out in the game by their defense as well. Specifically, right fielder Nick Block was phenomenal as he threw two guys out at second base and made multiple impressive catches diving, running into the gap and right at the fence.
"It's awesome," McLain said about playing next to Block. "I just try and get out of his way and let him do his thing. He was great today."
Wanting to set the tone early, the Senators did just that on Thursday with three runs in the first inning. Noah Gent started things off with a two-RBI double that drove in Caleb McNeely and Block. Gent moved to third on the throw home and then scored when Shaw hit a sacrifice fly to drive him in.
In the second, the Senators added one more as Caleb Marmo grounded out but scored a run that made it 4-0. However, Dyersburg answered back and scored the next three runs to make it 4-3.
Needing to get back on track, the Senators looked to McLain who came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth that made it 5-3.
The two teams traded scoreless innings from there until the seventh when Dyersburg got a run back to make it 5-4. The Eagles had the tying and go-ahead runs on base with two outs, but Crumbley struck out a Dyersburg batter to get out of the inning.
Needing some more insurance, the Senators got just that in the bottom of the seventh on Backus' home run and Shaw's two-out RBI double.
From there, Rivera shut the door to finish things off.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action next Tuesday as they host the Appalachian District Series. The Senators will take on No. 16 Georgia Highlands in a best-of-three series with the winner punching their ticket to the NJCAA World Series.
"We just have to attack and keep playing well and pitching well and everything will fall in line for us," Rivera said.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics