When the evening began, there were two unbeaten teams still remaining in Three Rivers Conference play, but when the dust settled at Joe O’Brien Field, only one would stand perfect as the final out was recorded.

Sullivan South took advantage of six runs in the first four innings to hand the Elizabethton Cyclones a 6-3 setback that left the Rebels leading the pack.

“In the conference this year, I think anybody can beat anybody,” said Rebel head coach Anthony Richardson. “That was a big win for us, especially over here. We got a couple of big hits.

“That’s a great ball club. It’s going to be fun rest of the year and a fun tournament.”

With South (5-0, 6-2) scoring two runs in the second, three in the third, and a solo run in the fourth, the Cyclones (3-1, 5-4) found themselves behind the eight ball trailing 6-0.

However, the Cyclones showed resilience by battling back for three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Michael Robinson got things rolling by singling sharply and then swiped second base. Gabe Treadway hit a slow dribbler to short and when Rebel shortstop Seth Worley uncorked a wild throw to first base, Robinson came around to score the first run of the game for the Cyclones.

Treadway was on his horse and went to second on the throw.

A Corey Russell 6-3 groundout sent Treadway to third with two outs in the inning.

Brodie Adams then ripped a triple to plate Treadway and narrow the South lead to 6-2.

Catcher John Lee kept life on the Cyclones side as he gapped a single to score Adams to cut the lead in half at 6-3.

South pitcher Matt Montgomery then coaxed Jesse Carr into a groundout to end the threat.

From that point, Elizabethton coach Ryan Presnell called on Adams in relief of starter Elijah Andrews and Adams gave a yeomen effort allowing only a couple of walks to the Rebels over the next three innings of play.

The Cyclones, however, simply couldn’t string the hits together to cut further into the lead as the Rebels managed to get the plays when needed in support of Montgomery.

“If you want to compete in the higher echelons, and you want to come out and be the leader in this conference then you have to come out and execute your game plan from the get-go, especially in a game like this,” said Presnell.

“Everybody saw this game coming for a whole week—two undefeated teams in the conference facing each other, so you know from the first pitch if you make mistakes by either team, you are going to pay for it,” added Presnell. “We made mistakes in our pitching game. We have to get better with two strikes.

“At the plate we have to execute better. Going blow for blow with Sullivan South is not a good idea.”
Elizabethton out hit the Rebels 9-8 with the Rebels making the only error of the contest.

Things don’t get any easier for the Cyclones as they travel to Johnson County for another conference tilt today.

——

South, 6-3

South……….…023 100 0 – 6  8  1

Elizabethton…000 300 0 – 3  9  0

Matt Montgomery and Jordan Mullins. Elijah Andrews, Brodie Adams (5) and John Lee.

WP: Matt Montgomery. LP: Elijah Andrews.