By Katie Barker
Carter County Times
The East Carter Raiders faced off against the Boyd County Lions last Wednesday for the 16th regional baseball championship where the local boys would ultimately reign victorious – bringing home the regional title and earning a spot in the state tournament.
Both teams were aiming for victory as the game remained scoreless until the 6th inning. At the top of the inning, East’s Andrew Tomolonis stepped to the plate and, on the second pitch, hit a single to send two runners to home. With two runs on the board, the Raiders had broken the stalemate, but the East Carter boys weren’t done yet.
In the 7th inning the Raiders would capitalize on their lead to secure their regional win and title. Senior Cody Salmons started off the inning getting on base with a double. Riley Steele substituted in for Salmons as a pinch-runner, and ended up coming home off a hit from Tate Scott taking the lead to 3-0.
Then senior Blake Hall stepped up to the plate, with two outs on the board, to hit a homerun, sending himself and two other players home, extending the East Carter lead to 6-0.
In the bottom of the seventh Boyd County tried to find some way to get a point on the board, but the Raiders were not letting it happen. Tomolonis struck out the first batter of the inning, and senior Gavin Sexton tagged the runner, getting the second out of the inning. The last out of the game came from Tate Scott who caught a fly ball, securing the Raiders regional victory.
“It was a great team win,” Tomolonis said when asked about the game. “This is what my teammates and I have been working towards for the last few years. Everyone did their job to make this happen and we couldn’t be happier.”
The Raiders play next this Friday, June 7, in the first round of the state tournament against the Ryle Raiders at Legends Field, with the game scheduled to start at 10am.
Contact the writer at news@cartercountytimes.com
East Carter Raiders (submitted photos, courtesy of Kelli Cornelia Photography) 
Andrew Tomolonis pitches in the 16th Region Championship game on Wednesday, May 29 (submitted photos, courtesy of Kelli Cornelia Photography) 
(submitted photos, courtesy of Kelli Cornelia Photography) 
Raiders celebrate their victory over the Boyd County Lions in the 16th Regional Tournament (submitted photos, courtesy of Kelli Cornelia Photography)
