Friendship, Mt. Juliet win region openers

Most of us experience the Monday morning blues. Friendship Christian has experienced the Monday afternoon blahs in the Region 4-A tournament the last few years.
The Commanders snapped out of their hitting funk in time to turn back visiting Pickett County 8-2.
Friendship led 2-0 before Pickett County climbed into a tie in the top of the fifth inning. The Commanders bounced back with three spots in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to advance to the region finals with a 24-12 record.
"It's been that way the last couple of years," said Friendship coach John McNeal, whose Commanders will travel to Monterey [an 11-5 winner over Trousdale County] on Wednesday, probably at 6 p.m., for the region final. "Last year we won 3-1 over Jackson County and the year before we won 3-1 over Clay County. It just seems like every Monday when we come to region play, we don't hit the baseball.
"Not to take anything from the teams we're playing. We just don't hit the baseball very well... Today we did after they tied, we were able to come in and get some clutch hits. But up to that point, we didn't hit very well at all."
Freshman Lee Maasen had three of Friendship's eight hits, including a double and a two-run homer in the sixth inning He drove in three runs. Brian Cravens, who collected the win in relief, and G.L. Waynick each drove in a run on two hits, including a double.
Stephen Pryor pitched the first 4 1/3 innings for Friendship, allowing both Pickett runs on two hits and three walks while whiffing 11. Cravens came on for the final 2 2/3 innings, retiring all eight Bobcats he faced [four on strikes] for the win.

Bears bludgeon Rossview 19-1, host Smyrna in region final
MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet's hitters came out on fire Monday night with five runs in the first inning and touchdowns in the second and third of a 19-1 rout of Rossview in the Region 5-AAA tournament.
Ryan Overstreet launched the Golden Bears with a first-inning grand slam. Josh Cotham cracked a three-run homer in the second and finished 3-for-3 with five RBI. Tyler Carr drove in three runs on two hits while Holden Richmond racked up a three-run double as the Golden Bears bought themselves two more games with a 34-10 record.
"We just came out smoking," said Mt. Juliet coach Mark Purvis, whose Bears will host District 9-AAA rival Smyrna [a 1-0 winner at Clarksville in nine innings] at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the region finals and also play in a sectional game Friday.
Taylor Hill picked up the win by allowing one hit and two walks while striking out six in three innings. B.J. Boston pitched the final two innings, surrendering a home run in the fourth.
Jeff Murphy managed two hits while brother Dustin Murphy and Caleb Knox both notched RBI singles and Lance Harrington a double as the Bears outhit the Hawks 12-2.
Rossview was without four senior starters who were suspended for disciplinary reasons.