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Eagles’ ride ends 1 game short of state tourney

T-G STAFF REPORT
Posted 5/22/23

SMYRNA — What’s been nothing short of a remarkable run through the postseason ended within one win of reaching the Class 4-A state tournament on Friday night against Stewarts Creek as the …

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Eagles’ ride ends 1 game short of state tourney

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SMYRNA — What’s been nothing short of a remarkable run through the postseason ended within one win of reaching the Class 4-A state tournament on Friday night against Stewarts Creek as the Red Hawks took the 11-1, Game 3 win over the Eagles to end Shelbyville’s season.
“The ride this group of young men took us on was one of a lifetime. There are memories obtained over the course of our lifetime and then there are those magical memories. The ones that every time you think of put a huge smile on your face and puts joy in your heart. This season is one of those magical memories,” Eagles coach Chase Jones said.
Stewarts Creek grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third before the Eagles answered with a RBI single from Kyler Trice.
From there, Stewarts Creek’s bats went to work as the Red Hawks knocked in four runs in the bottom of the fourth and five more in the bottom of the fifth to reach the 10-run rule limit.
While Friday night’s game came up short for the Eagles, the special postseason run was indicative of how the program’s culture has shifted over the past few months.
“Tonight will not be in our memory long, but the journey we took to get here will stay with me, my coaches, and most importantly our players for the rest of their lives. These young men have done it the right way. They are leaders on the field, in the community, in the classroom, and in the halls of our school.  Every one of them have become better baseball players, but more importantly they have grown into great young men. I love every one of them and I am so proud of them,” Jones said.
While the standard set by the coaching staff has yielded quick results, the goal is to push each player in the program.
“We have a high standard and push these young men in every way possible. We have a set of absolutes that we hold our players to. The ones that stick with this program will no doubt be better men as a result of being in it,” Jones said.
The senior class absolutely left their mark on this program, from pitching, to hitting and fielding, to leadership in the dugout—each senior that stepped on the field left their mark on the program.
“All the coaches are looking forward to watching our seniors take this new journey they will be starting after tonight,” Jone said.
But, there’s no rest for the weary as the coaching staff will be back at it, ready to assemble next year’s team.
“We are also ready to get back at it starting Wednesday at tryouts. The chapter of this season comes to a close, and what a dang awesome chapter it was. But I am so excited about how far we have come and the direction we are going,” Jones said.
Shelbyville finishes the season with a 19-21 overall record that included a run to the district championship, region runners-up and one game away from the Class 4-A sectional.
The Eagles finish with a 19-21 overall record.

Shelbyville 000 10 — 1 3 2
Stewarts Creek 002 45 — 11 8 0

Shelbyville: William Bobo 1-for-3, Nick Johnson 1-for-2, Kyler Trice 1-for-1.
WP: Schwartz
LP: Edwards