Miranda H. Lewis
Carter County Times
East Carter did it again.
The Raiders won the 62nd District Championship for the second straight season, capturing the two-peat with a 12-3 win over the Cougars in the championship game Thursday evening at West Carter High School.
East Carter’s perfect district season was capped off in six innings in the district finale.
Given the regularity with which they have faced off over the past two seasons, both teams know each other’s players well.
With such familiarity, the Raiders showed up and showed out.
It’s due in large part to the play of their pitchers, Andrew Tomolonis, Connor Skaggs, and Harley Bowen who allow the Raiders to utilize a strong rotation between the three aces.
The unhittable Tomolonis started on the mound, striking out eight over four perfect innings of work.
The junior recorded the W from the circle.
Seniors Connor Skaggs and Harley Bowen relieved Tomolonis in pitching duties, tossing an inning a piece.
East Carter scored eleven runs over the first four innings.
Evan Goodman pounced on a fastball to power a homer, followed by Ty Scott crushing a two-run home run.
The Cougars recorded three runs in the top of the fifth, to which the Raiders responded with their final run of the affair in the bottom of the fifth to elevate the score to a final 12-3.
With a healthy nine point lead heading into the sixth stanza, East Carter’s focus turned to keeping Morgan County off the scoreboard, and the Raiders did so convincingly.
Bowen quickly ended the game from the mound at the top of the sixth frame to help his squad reclaim the district title.
Tate Scott finished the game as the leading hitter for the Raiders with four hits.
Tomolonis followed with two hits.
Goodman and the Scott brothers, Ty and Tate, led the team with two RBIs, while Blake Hall and Tomolonis each had one.
East Carter outhit the Cougars 12-6 in the contest.
An eager Raiders team now turns their sight to the 16th Regional Tournament, set to take place at Morgan County.
Contact the writer at miranda@cartercountytimes.com