“We’re a gambling team,” said Pigeon Forge Coach Larry Cannon after his eighth inning steal call bringing sophomore Tyler Cannon from second to third paid off with a throwing error from the Jefferson Co. catcher that allowed the right hander to scamper on home for the 10-9 win. Cannon got his own win with the play after taking over the mound in the fifth inning with the Tigers (6-2) trailing the visiting Patriots 7-6.
AAA Jefferson County put up two early runs against The Tigers in the first before Pigeon Forge starter French Clark got the visitors to hit back-to-back 6-3 ground outs. Gryason Shockley got PF started with a two-out single. Jason McCann followed suit with a single of his own setting up Corey Elliot for a two rbi standing double that tied the score at 2 in the opening frame.
The patriots got the best of Clark in the second, pounding out five runs capped by a three rbi home run shot over the right field fence. Clark called it a night and Cody Myers forced the final out of the second in middle relief. Pigeon Forge wasn’t intimidated by the big inning, rallying back with two runs of their own. Junior third baseman Wesley Teaster weathered a pitch to the body for a free ride to first and scored on a double from Wayne Johnson. Shockley collected the rbi on Johnson with a single that was on its way to becoming a double due to a defensive error, but the close call at the middle base went against the Tigers and ended the inning.
Pigeon Forge closed in a little closer in the fourth. Chris Owens and Cannon singled, then Shockley scored Owens with an RBI single. With McCann batting, Shockley took off for second, sliding safely and distracting the Jefferson Co. infield, who failed to notice until too late the Cannon was on his way from third to home and completed the double steal.
Cannon took to the mound in the top of the fifth. He faced four batters to get three outs, the last two on strikes.
Anthony Wilson used a good eye to get a walk in the bottom of the inning and moved to third stretching a Teaster hit. Welcome came sliding into third and looked to be out on the close call but Coach Cannon was right on the play as the third base coach and could be heard across the park shouting, “he dropped the ball, he dropped the ball.” Wilson was deemed safe and got an easy trip home when Johnson took a pitch into the torso with the bases loaded. Cannon followed, breaking the 7-7 tie, with a two ribbie single.
Jefferson Co. tied things back up with two runs in the sixth and the bats fell silent the rest of the regulation seven. Cannon kept the Patriots at bay in the eighth, striking out two before issuing a walk. That lone man on the bag represented a go ahead run and the Tigers defense worked together to pick the Patriot off at second in an unconventional three up, three down.
Cannon’s double and steals during the error in the eighth broke the 9-9 tie and won the game for Pigeon Forge. The Tigers host Seymour (6-1) on Wednesday before traveling to Heritage on Friday.

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