FROM STAFF REPORTS

Sunday a local 16U travel baseball team had the honor to play on a pretty special field.

The Nationals, a team based out of Elizabethton, traveled to Knoxville and played in a tournament that allowed them to play on the ‘Home of the Vols’ Lindsey Nelson Field.

The team is made up of players from the Cyclones, Warriors, East Patriots, and Tennessee High to name a few and have a player from Knoxville as well.

The Nationals head coach, Curtis Birdsong, played on Warrior Hill and under his guidance, the team has meshed to become a very competitive opponent.

On Sunday the Nationals drew home field and settled into what would be an excellent pitching duel for five innings.

Elizabethton Cyclone pitcher Ashton Wilson took the mound and was stellar through five innings only allowing four hits, four walks, five strikeouts and gave up three runs.

But in the 5th, an outside pitch with two on that should not have been hit cleared the right-field fence for a three-run home run that would seal the Nationals fate.

Austin Mann from Sullivan East came on to finish the game allowing four runs on three hits, with a strikeout and one walk.

Errors plagued the team after the fifth.

The bright spots on offense for the Nationals were Elizabethton’s Ethan Meirer who went 3 for 3 (2 doubles & single) and the Cyclones Elijah Birdsong who drove in the Warriors Lucas Chausse in the second inning for their only run in a 7-1 loss to the Tigers.

Playing on the Big Orange’s home field was a dream for many who may one day find themselves playing there.

Members of the team and their school are a follows:

Elizabethton:

Gage Treadway

Ethan Meirer

Ashton Wilson

Elijah Birdsong

Happy Valley:

Lucas Chausse

Sullivan Central:

Jaydon Minck

Gavin Presnell

Carters High School (Knoxville):

Chandler Wilson

Tennessee High:

Austin Mann

Sullivan East:

Seth Chafin