Elizabethton knows how critical it is to win every conference game going forward as they are battling for a second-seed entering the district tournament making Wednesday’s game at Cannon-Gouge Park a must-win.
Thanks to a quick, early lead the Cyclones were able to do just that against cross-town rival Happy Valley on Wednesday night with a 9-2 victory.
The Cyclones got a run off a Michael Robinson double in the first inning followed by a home run by Brodie Adams to set the tone.
Evan Carter singled in the second inning as did Adams to drive home a couple more runs for Elizabethton.
Southpaw Garrett Hartley, meanwhile, was spinning his stuff from the hill as the senior went five and one-third innings giving up both Warrior runs on three hits while fanning 10 Warrior batters.
Corey Russell took over for Hartley and kept the Warriors in check the rest of the contest.
The Warriors Dustun Sams was the hard-luck loser as he lasted only two innings giving up six runs on six hits while striking out one Cyclone batter.
Elizabethton banged out 11 hits in the game as Evan Perkins, Robinson, Ryan Wetzel, and Adams each had a multiply hit game as they collected two base knocks apiece.
Sams collected one RBI in the contest.