BRISTOL, Va. – In 2024, the Bristol State Liners will move to the brand new Whitetop Creek Park, moving to the Tennessee side of Bristol. This meant that the Kingsport Axmen took on the Bristol State Liners at Boyce Cox Field in Bristol, Va., for one last time.
Behind a number of unlikely heroes, the Axmen took the win over the State Liners, 11-4, on Wednesday night.
Kingsport (21-21) struck first in the first inning when Mayes White singled and Corbin Shaw doubled. White scored on a Carson Queck single, and Shaw came home on an RBI groundout by newcomer Noah Gent.
Bristol (17-24) collected back-to-back doubles by Jordan Austin and Jake Books followed by a Daniel Contreras single to tie the ballgame at two after just an inning of play.
Kingsport retook the lead in the second as Andrew Citron singled in Kevin Fernandez. In the third, Cole Swift brought home a run with a sacrifice fly. Seth Floyd then collected his first career Appalachian League hit, scoring Queck to give Kingsport a three-run lead.
The offensive fireworks continued for Kingsport as the Axmen picked up three runs in the sixth inning. Swift singled to open the inning and stole second base. He scored as Adin Morehouse also collected his first career Appalachian League hit, scoring Swift. Citron then picked up his second RBI with another single. White's subsequent bases-loaded walk scored the Axmen's eighth run.
Kingsport added three more runs in the seventh. The first came on a wild pitch before a third RBI single from Citron and an RBI knock from Shaw, finishing the scoring for the evening.
Caleb Anderson picked up the win for Kingsport out of the bullpen, his second of the year, while Johnny Stevens was hit with his third loss of the season for the State Liners.
Kingsport will complete their season series with the State Liners on Thursday as the series shifts to Kingsport with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
