Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Peyton McGaha rounds second base on a single to right field during the Yellow Jackets' 5-3 win over Pisgah.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s young Yellow Jackets displayed the composure of veterans by coming from behind twice to secure their first win of the baseball season, a 5-3 triumph over visiting Pisgah last Tuesday.
Hayesville looked like a team with only one returning starter, second baseman Michael Mauney, in its first two games, both losses, but used timely hitting and errorless defense to subdue Pisgah.
“Our kids bounced back after letdowns at Towns and Union, where we shot ourselves in the foot on multiple occasions,” Hayesville Coach Joe Jack Sellers said. “Pisgah has a great team. Our kids competed.”
The pinnacle of Hayesville’s competitive spirit came with Pisgah leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning. That’s when the Yellow Jackets stung the Bears with a three-spot.
Hayesville, 1-2, used discipline at the plate to launch the comeback. Then, with bases loaded, Kyle Shaheen drew a walk to push across the tying run. The go-ahead run plated on a ground-out by Tate Roberts, which brought Jackson Sellers to the dish. The sophomore first baseman responded by ripping an RBI single up the middle.
The base knock was Sellers’ second hit in as many at bats.
“We got some great at bats in the sixth to brawl it open,” Sellers said. “We got runners on base and finally got some clutch hits to drive in runs.”
Peyton McGaha also rapped a pair of hits as he extended his hitting streak to three games. McGaha, who is hitting .400 on the year, also scored 2 runs and stole a base.
Mauney went 2-for-3 and scored a run.
Roberts had Hayesville’s only extra-base hit, a double.
Chance Hughes contributed a hit, a run and a steal. Cade Caruso had an RBI in two at bats. Dawson Devane walked twice.
Kyle Shaheen went the distance on the mound, scattering seven hits and striking out four without issuing a walk.
Hayesville led 1-0 after the first frame. Pisgah had leads of 2-1 in the fourth and 3-2 in the fifth.
The Yellow Jackets begin Smoky Mountain Conference play Thursday at Andrews. The Wildcats, 0-1, visit Hayesville on Friday.
The Yellow Jackets’ rematch with Union County was rained out last Wednesday. It will be played Wednesday, March 20.