Squeeze it again, Stefan

From staff reports

Friendship Christian's 11-inning win over Hendersonville on Wednesday night was so good, the Commanders did it again Thursday, only in eight innings over Ezell-Harding in the Wilson County Invitational.

For the second straight night, Stefan Remus squeezed home the winning run to lift Friendship to an extra-inning victory, this time a 4-3 decision.

Gunner Osborne, who started the winning run with an 11th-inning single against Hendersonville, doubled to the left-field wall to open the eighth. Courtesy-runner Jameson Sorrels moved to third on Tanner Martin's single.

One out later, Remus dropped a bunt down the first-base line to send Sorrels home and lift Friendship to 3-4 for the season.

Left-hander Caleb Snider pitched all eight innings for the win, spotting Ezell-Harding three unearned runs in the first inning. He allowed five hits and three walks while striking out 12.

Friendship began whittling away at the margin in the bottom of the first when remus and Snider hit back-to-back singles and advanced on a wild pitch. Michael Hawks' sacrifice fly to center put the Commanders on the board.

Hunter Watts walked in the Friendship second, moved up on Osborne's bunt and continued to third on Martin's single. Following a walk to Brennan Swindoll, Remus' sacrifice fly to center brought Watts home.

Osborne reached on an error in the fourth and his runner, Sorrels, scored on a wild pitch after Martin reached on an error.

Friendship will continue the Invitational tonight when Trousdale County comes in for a 6:30 p.m. game which will count in the District 8-A standings.

Central spins double shutouts

GLADEVILLE — With Old Man Winter hanging on even though the calendar now says spring, Wilson Central tried to beat the weather by starting its portion of the Wilson County Invitational a night early.

The Wildcats really didn't beat the weather, but did shiver through spitting snow to beat Macon County 3-0 and White House 1-0 Wednesday night.

With the cold making conditions tough on hitters, sophomore left-hander A.J. Franklin allowed three hits to Macon County while striking out 14 Tigers to improve to 2-0. Kyle Hubbuch followed with a five-hitter with six strikeouts to even his record at 1-1.

Austin Fry and Braxton McFarlin doubled to left-center field in the seventh inning to score the walk-off win against White House.

Hubbuch doubled as he, Malone Smith and Cullen Smith each drove in a run against Macon County. The Smiths had a pair of hits apiece.

All three head coaches have Cumberland ties. Central's Anthony Ford and White House's Mark Mills were teammates in the mid-1990s while Macon's Juan Clariday, a onetime Democrat sports writer, served coach Woody Hunt in just about every capacity except play in the late '80s and early '90s.

The Wildcats climbed to 3-3 for the season after a 1-3 spring break trip to Gulf Shores, Ala., last week.

Central will play host to Clarksville at 6 p.m. Friday.