TIM HAYES, BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
SALEM, Va. – Once he stepped on the mound Saturday afternoon at Salem Memorial Ballpark, Lebanon High School pitcher Nathan "Tater" Phillips was in complete control as he fired fastballs and bent breaking balls by one hapless hitter after another.
The anxiety-filled moments leading up to the biggest start of the sophomore right-hander's life were a different story, however.
"I was shaking in my boots," Phillips said. "My biggest fear was letting the community down. This is one of those games a lot of people make a 2 ½-hour drive for. I did not want to let them down."
He instead gave the large contingent of red-clan fans who gathered at the home of the Carolina League's Salem Red Sox plenty to stand up and cheer about in delivering a performance that will be talked about around Russell County for years to come.
Phillips struck out 11 in tossing a no-hitter as the Pioneers dominated in a 7-0 triumph over the Auburn Eagles in the finals of the VHSL Class 1 baseball tournament and won their second state championship in three years.