LITTLE LEAGUE

  Hometown Bank needed a win over league-leading TECO Coal to secure second place in the Corbin Little League standings Monday. It didn’t happen as TECO Coal came from behind to edge Hometown Bank, 6-5 at the Corbin Little League Field.

Now they will need help from TECO Coal to get the number two seed. If Dr. Pepper beats TECO Coal the two teams will be tied with 11-5 records. If TECO Coal wins, Hometown Bank will take the number two seed into the league tournament, which begins Friday.

In Monday’s showdown between the top two teams, Hometown Bank broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when Drew Carter hit a double to right center field. He stole third and scored on a throwing error by TECO Coal catcher Brayden Sevier.

Two innings later, TECO Coal erupted for three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead in the game. Michael Scott walked with one-out followed by back-to-back singles from Michael May and Chris Jordan. Jordan’s hit past the shortstop scored Scott to tie the game at 1-1.

May then scored on an infield error and Jordan scored on a wild pitch for a two-run lead in the game.

In the sixth, TECO Coal added three more runs. Waylon Sawyer led off with a hit down the third base line but was out at second when Cody Morris hit into a fielder’s choice.

A walk to Scott and an infield error loaded the bases for TECO Coal. Jordan followed with a walk forcing Morris home. Sevier hit into a fielder’s choice and Tanner Barnes was able to get Scott at the plate for the second out of the inning.

The eventual winners added two more runs on a Conner Hopkins single to second for a 6-1 lead.

Hometown Bank rallied in the bottom of the sixth and came up one-run short of tying the score. Barnes led off with a double down the right field line and Carter followed with a triple. Carter scored on a ground out by Colby Lacefield.

Reedy drew a walk from Hopkins, who had just come in to pitch for TECO Coal. Hopkins then struck out Frederick, but Clay Shelton blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence, pulling Hometown Bank within a run.

Timmy McHargue followed with a single up the middle and was the tying run, but the game ended on a ground out to second by Dustin Sams.

TECO Coal 6, Hometown Bank 3

Teco Coal 000  033- 6  8  1

Hometown 001  004- 5  7  2

Chris Jordan, Conner Hopkins (6) and Brayden Sevier. Kenton Frederick, Breaden Reedy (6) and Keaton Knuckles. W-Jordan, L-Frederick. 2B-Carter (HB), Dickerson (TC), Barnes (HB). 3B-Jordan (TC), Carter (HB). HR-Shelton (HB).