Elizabethton rips JC National

By Tim Chambers
star staff
tchambers@starhq.com

  What a difference one night makes. After failing to score on Thursday night against the Johnson City American All-Stars, Elizabethton broke loose for 21 runs and 16 hits en route to a 21-6 win over the Johnson City National All-Stars Friday night.
  In what was expected to be a close affair, Elizabethton cut loose for five runs in the second to break open a 2-1 ballgame. JC took a 1-0 lead in the first, but Elizabethton roared back when Jeff Peters beat out an infield single and later scored on a double by Tyler Blevins.
  Blevins came home when J.D. Scalf lined a hard single to left center for the one-run advantage. Two Johnson City errors that allowed Brandon Cole and Wendell Loving to reach base spelled doom for the Nationals.
  A Jeff Peters groundout brought home one, followed by a line drive single from Jonathan Canady. Singles from Nick Papantoniou and Blevins followed by a double from Scalf upped the 'Betsy lead at 7-1.
  "We crushed the ball tonight," said Elizabethton manager Charles Peters. "Thomas (Dearstone) pitched well and all the kids hit the ball hard the entire night."
  After a scoreless fourth, Elizabethton its their way for six in the fifth, capped off by a triple from Jeff Peters along with Thomas Dearstone's double, which proved to be key hits in the inning.
  Dearstone pitched five strong innings before giving way to Papantoniou. Blevins would come on to finish the job.
  A four-run fifth by Johnson City pushed the game into the seventh, where the 'Betsy All-Stars erupted for five runs.
  With Dearstone, Justin Peters and Cole on the bases, Loving sent a fastball deep into center field for an inside-the-park home run to end the contest.
  Jeff Peters had three hits to pace Elizabethton while Canady, Papantoniou, Blevins, Scalf, Cole and Loving had two hits each. Cole scored four times while Scalf played outstanding defense at the catcher's position for Elizabethton.
  Smokey Mountain 6
  Johnson City Americans 5
  The Smokey Mountain all stars held off a sixth-inning rally to win the nightcap over the Johnson City Americans. Trevor Richardson go the win in relief while D'Shannon Goins took the loss.
  Brandon Massey belted two triples to lead Smokey Mountain while Adam Venters and Timmy Garrett blasted solo three-baggers to aid the win.
  Will Henry, Josh Fabozzi, Aaron Ferrell, Hunter Dea,l Brad Mitchell and Mark Schrum had solo hits for JC.
  Smokey Mountain will play Avoca at 4 p.m. in Saturday's finals of the winner bracket.
  All games are being played at Elizabethton High School.