Beau Schillig delivers a pitch for the Bulldogs. (Post Photo by Dennis Holley)
By DENNIS HOLLEY
Sports Writer
LYNNVILLE — The Cornersville Bulldogs (4-15, 3-5) opened play in the district 10 tournament as the visiting team against the Warriors of Culleoka High School (7-12, 5-3) on a fantastic spring afternoon on the field at Richland High School.
The Bulldogs, having split the season series with the Warriors, were looking to take the rubber match and advance in the winner’s bracket as the 2024 season draws to its conclusion, used a brilliant pitching performance from Senior Beau Schillig and a defensive breakdown by the Warriors in the eighth inning to take a 2-1 victory.
Schillig was simply masterful in his 7-2/3 innings yielding one run on four hits with 10 strikeouts.
Ayden Campbell finished up the victory with a strikeout to seal the game for the Bulldogs.
Cornersville’s Campbell and Blaine Woodard each had two hits as Warrior hurler Ethan Richardson matched Schillig, giving up two runs in eight innings to go along with 14 strikeouts.
Cornersville’s Colyn Schillig led off the game, drawing a base-on-balls and Campbell beat out a dribbler down the first base line and the Bulldogs were in business with two on and no one out.
After a strikeout, Peyton Cherry for the Bulldogs popped up down the first base side and Richardson made a great diving catch, rolled over and threw to second base where Schillig had roamed too far away from the base and the Warriors completed the double play.
The Warriors opened the bottom of the first with a walk by Tommy Carroll, then a strike out but Caroll stole second then on a bunt by Mac Putnam an errant throw to first base resulted in Carroll scampering home to put the Warriors on the board first, 1-0.
Schillig righted the ship with consecutive strike outs to end the bottom of the first inning.
The 1-0 lead by the Warriors lasted until the top of the third inning when designated hitter Hayden Cherry led off with a base hit to centerfield, advancing to third base on a wild pick-off attempt then racing home on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Bulldog defense executed a perfect defensive play after a booming double by Carroll and with one out, Peyton Gutierrez lined a base hit to centerfield
Woodard fielded the ball from center field and threw to cut-off man, shortstop Colyn Schillig who relayed a perfect throw to catcher Garrett Schillig to nail Carroll at the plate.
Schillig then finished the inning with a strikeout and the score remained, 1-1.
The score remained 1-1 through the seventh inning but the Warriors threatened in the bottom of the seventh when Schillig’s control lapsed as two Warriors were on base as a result of hit batters, but fly ball outs to right and left field got the Bulldogs out of the inning and into extra innings.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Campbell laced a single to left field, stole second and then Cherry grounded a ball to third base, but the throw got away from the Warrior first baseman allowing Campbell to race home to put the Bulldogs in the lead, 2-1.
Schillig got a pop-up for the first out, then a strikeout but had to leave the game due to a mandated pitch count and Campbell came in and shut the door with a strikeout as the Bulldogs prevailed with 2-1 win.
Cornersville 001 000 01 — 2 8 1
Culleoka 100 000 00 — 1 4 0
Cornersville: Ayden Campbell 3-for-4, Peyton Cherry 1-for-4, Kris Malone 1-for-4, Blaine Woodard 2-for-4, Hayden Cherry 1-for-3.
WP: B. Schillig
LP: Williamson
