BEARVILLE — Grayson Arington’s twoout, two-run double in the second inning broke a 1-all tie giving top-seed Pierce County the lead for good en route to an 8-1 Round 2 series-clinching win Thursday over Pike County.
The Bears (29-3) moved to within one victory of tying the school record for victories in a season set in 2012 (30-9) and tied in 2022 (30-6).
PCHS will put its school-record 22-game winning streak on the line in the “Elite 8” against eighth-seed Callaway starting today (Wednesday, May 6).
It’s the fourth time in five years the Bears have reached the quarterfinals under head coach Andrew Evans and 13th time in program history dating back to their first appearance in 1994.
Pierce County improved to 13-4 all-time in second round series including 4-1 over the last five years.
The Bears scored the final eight runs overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the backend of the April 30 doubleheader sweep of Pike County (17-17). The Pirates were making their eighth consecutive “Sweet 16” appearance dating back to 2017.
Two advancements led to Class 3A titles in 2019 and 2022. A third (2023) ended in the semifinals.
Pike County grabbed its only lead of the series with a first inning run against Brant-ley Willis (5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP). The Pirates scored on a two-out single for the 1-0 lead.
After having the first five batters retired, the Bears’ next five batters in the second inning reached base with four scoring to claim the lead for good at 4-1.
Willis (1-for-2, hit by pitch) spurred the rally with a two-out single. He scored from first on Christian Osbourne’s (2-for-3) ensuing double tying the score at 1-apiece.
A walk to Bryson Smith (2-for-3) was followed by Grayson Arington’s (2-for-4) goahead, two-run double for a 3-1 advantage. Chance Williams (1-for-4), who had his streak of reaching base in 12 consecutive at bats end in the first inning with a groundout, ripped a run-scoring triple for a 4-1 lead.
After leaving three on base from the third through the fifth innings, PCHS tacked on two runs in each of the final two innings.
Dylan Johnson (2-for-3, stolen base) led off the sixth with a first-pitch double. He trotted home on Osbourne’s one-out single upping the margin to 5-1.
Smith, who hit into a fielder’s choice, stole second and raced to third on an errant throw from the Pike County catcher. He scored on an ensuing passed ball for a fiverun advantage.
Walks to Jonathon Stone and Willis, sandwiched around a Johnson single, loaded the bases to start the seventh. Stone scored on a passed ball with Johnson advancing to third.
Osbourne lifted a sacrifice fly to center one pitch later, plating Johnson with the final run.
Emmitt Hall worked the final two innings for PCHS striking out four batters. He retired the final six batters after being greeted with a leadoff single to start the sixth.
