by Rusty Ellis
The Cookeville Cavaliers fell behind early and battled back from a four-run deficit, but couldn’t complete the comeback in a 4-3 loss to district foe Lebanon on Wednesday.
The Blue Devils got the scoring started in the second inning, as they struck for two runs off Cavalier starter Sam Snyder. The Cavs had a chance to answer in the bottom of the inning after a one-out Luke Bragga double, but a subsequent groundout and strikeout ended the threat with no runs for Cookeville.
The Cavaliers threatened once again in the third inning, as Ethan Innis and Ty Gantt both doubled to get into scoring position with one out, but Jackson Madewell and Ty Harrison each struck out to end the inning.
After the Blue Devils scored their third run of the game in the fourth, another Bragga one-out double gave the Cavaliers another chance with a runner in scoring position with less than two outs, but two more strikeouts held Cookeville off the board yet again.
Lebanon pushed the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth, though this time Cookeville was able to answer with a pair of RBI singles from Harrison and Bragga in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead back down to 4-2.
After holding the Blue Devils off the board in the sixth, Cookeville then cut the lead down to 4-3 on a Ty Gantt double heading into the seventh inning.
With one final chance to tie the game, Cookeville put two runners on base via a walk and an error with one out, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the game in a 4-3 victory for the visiting Blue Devils.
Cookeville will be back in action on Saturday when they host Warren County.
