TAZEWELL — It was an inauspicious start, to say the least. Down 6-2 going to the fifth Lebanon rallied for a 14-7 victory on Wednesday at Lou Peery Field. With the win the Pioneers clinched the SWD regular season title their first year back in Class 2.
Lebanon sent ace Nathan “Tater” Phillips to the mound after defeating the Bulldogs at home 10-0 on Wednesday. The big righthander struggled, facing six batters and striking out one. Phillips allowed five hits, including a homer before being pulled. Sophomore Isaac Godsey was summoned to the bump and went the rest of the way to get the decisive win.
The Bulldogs took a 5-1 lead in the first. They added another run in the fourth for a 6-2 advantage. Lebanon (13-5, 9-0 SWD) hasn’t won eight contests in a row by giving up.
“We haven’t quit all season,” Lebanon coach Cody Compton said. “I knew that if we could just get out of that opening inning we would have a chance.”
The bats came alive in the fifth, with nine runs crossing the plate on seven hits and a couple of Tazewell errors. Phillips lined a single to push across two runs. Luke Garrett added a two-run hit, when the smoke cleared the Pioneers had turned the four-run deficit into an 11-6 lead.
Godsey only allowed two runs, striking out three in six-plus innings of work to get his fourth win.
“Isaac threw great and he’s done well for us at other times this season,” Compton said. “He came in against a strong Daniel Boone team earlier in the year when we were able to rally for an 11-6 win and he threw well against Abingdon.”
Chance Parker went 3-for-4 with a double, three stolen bases, and scored three runs. Luke Garrett had two hits and three RBIs. Jake Hilton ripped two doubles and drove in a run, and Godsey totaled two hits.
“We hit the ball hard and took advantage of some mistakes,” Compton said. “Tazewell has a good team, and they came out swinging, so we had to respond.”
Brody Patterson had a homer for Tazewell (7-11, 2-7 SWD). Tyler Hash and Tre Blankenship each finished with two hits. The Bulldogs were hurt by seven walks and five errors.
“We came out swinging, but we’ve got to string things together,” Tazewell coach Brandon McDaniel said. “You can’t give up free runs like that.”
Lebanon will travel to Richlands for the final game. They will host the SWD semifinals and finals.