Red Bay falls in state semifinals
Braxton Massey pitches for Red Bay. CONTRIBUTED/HAYDEN MOSS
High School Sports, Red Bay Tigers, Sports
Bart Moss For the FCT
 By Bart Moss For the FCT  
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Red Bay falls in state semifinals

The Red Bay Tigers run through the Class 2A baseball playoffs came to an end on their home diamond after being swept by the Mars Hill Panthers 21-6 and 4-3.

Red Bay finished the season with a 25-8 record. They were area champions and Franklin County champions.

Game one got ugly fast as Mars Hill teed off on the Tigers scoring 11 runs in the top of the first inning and never let the game get close, leading 16-1 after two complete innings.

Mars Hill scored 12 runs on 16 hits while Red Bay scored six runs on seven hits.

Red Bay’s offense came from a Riley Carpenter home run and two hits each by Jaxson Swann and Carson McGee.

Red Bay had a chance to recover in game two, but couldn’t take advantages of enough opportunities to get a win and send the series to game three.

Even though the Tigers outhit the Panthers seven to four, they still fell 4-3 in the nightcap.

Jaxson Swann throws out runner at second base.

Jeremiah Thorne led Red Bay with two hits.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the third inning thanks to three singles and got on the board when Carson McGee singled in a run.

McGee, Ayden Pruitt and Landyn Lewey each drove in one run for Red Bay.

Davo Colburn and Thorne each doubled for the Tigers.

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