Morgan McCarley dominates as Red Devils clinch 1A, Area 15 title

By Staff
Scot Beard
VINA – The ninth-ranked Vina baseball team had a good reason to celebrate Monday after it defeated Tharptown 13-0 to win the Class 1A, Area 15 title and clinch the right to host the first round of the state playoffs.
Morgan McCarley had reason to celebrate even more. He pitched a five-inning no-hitter, struck out twelve Tharptown batters – including nine in a row at one point.
He started the game by walking three batters in the first inning to load the bases.
“I had to get a feel for the mound,” McCarley said. “I didn’t throw much before the game.”
He also got the job done at the plate, recording five RBIs in the fourth inning. Two of those RBIs were a result of McCarley’s first career home run, which sparked the Red Devils to a 10-run fourth inning.
“I got ahead of the count and figured I would get a fastball next,” McCarley said. “I took a good swing and it went out.”
With one out in the second inning, McCarley issued his fourth walk of the game before striking out nine consecutive Wildcat batters.
Vina, which left the bases loaded in the first without scoring, got its first runs of the game when Clay Pierce and Adam Pharr scored on a single by Channing Haithcock in the third inning.
Nick Schmittou, who drew a walk before Haithcock’s hit, scored on a sacrifice by Patrick White.
The Red Devils (14-7, 5-0) began the next inning with Cody Renfroe drawing a walk and McCarley hitting his homer with one out to give Vina a 5-0 lead.
Pierce doubled and Pharr struck out before Schmittou doubled to drive in Pierce. Haithcock singled and a double by White scored both runners.
Keith Hester and Renfroe both drew walks and White scored on an error. Brent Townsend drew a walk to load the bases.
McCarley then doubled to clear the bases and put the Red Devils ahead 12-0. McCarley scored on a single by Pierce to round out the Red Devil scoring.
With one out in the fifth Tharptown’s Tristen Smith drew a walk to end McCarley’s strikeout streak. He was forced out at second base as Jacob Parker reached on a fielder’s choice.
McCarley then struck out Kelby Hallmark to preserve the no-hitter.
With the win, Vina will host the first round of the playoffs for the first time under coach Greg Hamilton.
“I can’t say enough good things about this team,” Hamilton said. “We’re a small school that never has more than three or four seniors. It shows what kind of players these guys are.”
Tharptown, which fell to 2-3 in area play, was eliminated from playoff contention as Phillips defeated Belgreen to improve to 4-2 in the area and the Bears hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Wildcats.