Coalfield Survives Lookout Valley Rally for 7-5 Victory in State Tournament

By Terry Futrell

Lookout Valley turned an apparent rout by the Coalfield Yellow Jackets on Tuesday into a white-knuckle, edge-of-your-seat thriller in the opening round of the TSSAA Baseball Tournament. After exploding with seven runs in the top of the first inning, Coalfield’s bats went silent and Lookout Valley slowly, meticulously chipped away at Coalfield’s lead. Coalfield fans breathed a huge sigh of relief as relief pitcher Levi Heidel shut Lookout Valley down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Coalfield a 7-5 victory and the opportunity to move on to round 2 in the winners’ bracket of the tournament.

Coalfield batters racked up five singles and two walks in the top of the first inning to take an early 7-0 lead over Lookout Valley. Coalfield had seven base runners before making their first out in the inning. Cole Hines led off with a single, followed by a walk by Luke Treece. Levi Brasel and Brayden Burgess had back-to-back singles, scoring Hines and Treece. Levi Heidel walked to load the bases. Eli Justice stole home on a passed ball. Zach Armstrong followed with a single that scored Burgess. Aiden Sexton reached base on a Lookout Valley fielding error, scoring both Heidel and Armstrong. Aiden Sexton then scored on an infield sacrifice by Reilly Brown. Rommel Conlon singled on a bunt but was left stranded when Cole Hines and Luke Treece hit into outs. Coalfield had eleven at bats in the top of the first inning.

Fast-forward to the bottom of the second inning. Lookout Valley placed three runners on base with a walk, a single, and a fielder’s choice. But could score only one run. Coalfield pitcher Levi Brasel recorded two strikeouts in the inning. Coalfield led 7-1 after two innings.

Coalfield was again unable to score in the top of the third, and Lookout Valley charged ahead with two runs. With two outs and one runner on base, Jacob Winchester drove a hard drive into left field, scoring Jaxon Quails. An error by Coalfield’s outfield allowed Winchester to score.  Pitcher Levi Brasel struck out the final Lookout Valley batter, leaving two runners stranded. Lookout Valley trimmed Coalfield’s lead to 7-3.

Coalfield could muster no more than one single in the top of the fourth inning. Lookout Valley responded with two singles and scored one run on an infield sacrifice, pulling within three runs of Coalfield, whose lead was cut to 7-4.

At this point, the rains came, and the game was suspended until Wednesday morning. The game resumed with Coalfield at bat in the top of the fifth and leading 7-4. Despite three consecutive walks and an infield error by Lookout Valley, Coalfield was unable to cross the plate in the top of the fifth. Lookout Valley responded by hitting three singles and by placing another runner on base through a fielder’s choice. Defensive play by Coalfield’s infield limited Lookout Valley to one additional run, bringing the score to 7-5.

Neither team could score in the sixth inning, and Coalfield again came up scoreless in the top of the seventh. Coalfield led 7-5 and was only three outs away from a victory that would keep them in the winners’ bracket. The first Lookout Valley batter flied out to Reilly Brown in left field. Tension mounted. The second batter grounded out to pitcher Levi Heidel. With two outs, there were white knuckles and much anticipation throughout Coalfield’s fan base. After one strike, Lookout Valley’s Christian Chandler hit a ground ball to pitcher Heidel who threw to first baseman Brayden Burgess for the final out and a 7-5 Coalfield victory.

Levi Brasel (2 for 4) and Zach Armstrong (2 for 3) led Coalfield in batting. Brasel was also the winning pitcher, and Levi Heidel was credited with a save.

Lookout Valley falls to the losers’ bracket and Coalfield moves on to play Eagleville Wednesday afternoon in the winners’ bracket.