Injuries plague CCHS Baseball squad

Courier Sports Report

Cannon County’s baseball team felt the sting of illness and injury during a tough week that saw the Lions suffer three losses.

Cannon County suffered a 6-4 extra-inning loss against Murfreesboro Central Magnet Monday (April 8) and then lost to the Tigers 14-0 Tuesday (April 9).

The Lions were without sophomore All-District 8-AA performer Nick Vassar (illness) Monday and Tuesday. They were without freshman standout Graden Strang Tuesday.

Cannon County played much better but suffered a 5-1 setback against MTCS Saturday.

The Lions enter the week in fourth in the District 8-AA standings, facing rival DeKalb County Monday and traveling to Smithville Tuesday.

Dalton Bell pitched a strong game against Murfreesboro Central Monday but left with a no decision after seven innings. Bell allowed just four hits in his seven-inning stint.

Central scored two in the top of the first but the Lions tied in the bottom when Trent Bragg drove in one run and Strang scored on a hustle play to even the score, 2-2.

Central went ahead 4-2 in the third but the Lions fought right back.

Brent Duggin was hit by a pitch and later scored on Strang’s RBI single in the third to close the gap to 4-3. The Lions tied it in the fourth when Tucker Francis walked and scored on Nathan McGuire’s RBI.

“Our team showed a lot of fight,” Bell said. “We had some tough situations to overcome and we almost did. We just have to pull it together and have a strong finish.”

The Lions had the winning run at third with less than two outs in the seventh but couldn’t get it in and eventually fell in extra innings.

Strang suffered a lower back injury and was held out of the remainder of the week.

The Lions had a tough outing in falling to Central on Tuesday but bounced back with a better showing Saturday.

Brian Duggin had two hits, Bell had a double and Francis pitched a strong game and added a single for the Lions.