KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Axmen completed a six-run comeback to stun Elizabethton to claim the final regular-season game of the year. Kingsport turns its attention to Friday's semifinal game against Johnson City.
An early barrage had the River Riders up 6-0 going into the bottom of the third inning. Everything changed in that fateful inning with Kingsport clicking for the first time that night.
An RBI double from Garrett Luett got the inning started, and three more runs followed after a sacrifice fly, wild pitch, and a groundout. The Axmen worked their way within two runs.
BJ Gibson had the bases loaded with two outs, as Luis Angel Blanco was trying to get out of the inning. Gibson ripped a single into the outfield scoring not one, but two runs tying the contest.
Kingsport could have been satisfied with tying the game at six, but the Axmen weren't content, as after Seth Farni's walk, Luett singled into right, scoring two runs to make the score 8-6.
Elizabethton never recovered after the disastrous eight-run inning, as the Kingsport arms out of the bullpen were lights out.
That's not to say that the River Riders didn't get close.
At one point, Elizabethton had the bases loaded against Rupert Blackwood with no outs, but after a mound visit from Kingsport skipper Rick Adair, Blackwood struck out five batters in a row to get out of the jam and then some.
The next chance for the River Riders came in the eighth once again with the bases loaded and no outs. Elizabethton trailed by three at the time, but a strikeout led to a double play ending the threat, getting Ian Sonner out of the jam.
Kingsport added two more runs afterward on a Cash Williams and Jacob Parr RBI single.
Elizabethton had already been told that its playoff hopes were over, and after that, the wind was taken from the team's sails.
Still, the River Riders had a chance in the ninth, but Joshua Isaacs slammed the door closed on Elizabethton, sealing the final game of the regular season.
As for Kingsport, the Axmen turn their attention to tomorrow's West Division final against Johnson City. The Axmen have home-field advantage, but the Doughboys are undefeated on the Axmen's turf.
