PIGEON FORGE — Pigeon Forge’s district contest versus top challenger Gibbs turned into a pitcher’s duel on Monday, and sophomore Dylan Loy showed what he is capable of.
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Loy accounted for all 21 outs the Tigers recorded in the field, striking out 19.
He threw 91 pitches, 70 for strikes, and allowed only two hits along with no walks.
“I don’t know if that many people in the world have had a pitcher account for all the outs,” Pigeon Forge head coach Mike Guinn said. “Unless he strikes them all out, but either way it is pretty impressive. He has been working toward that.”
Loy doubled in the bottom of the third inning to break a scoreless tie when Justin McClelland made it home.
In the sixth, McClelland, who went 1-2, scored on a wild pitch to add an insurance run.
Loy struck out three more in the seventh to end the game with the last batter taking a called strike.
“I just was confident. I came out really focused,” Loy said. “It is up there (as one of the best games that I have pitched).”
The win gives the Tigers the upper hand as of right now in the race for the district title heading into Tuesday night’s rematch at Gibbs.
They improved to 19-1 overall and 8-0 in district play, while the Eagles are now 18-4 and 8-1 in district play.
“We expected this kind of game out of them,” Guinn said. “Their pitcher threw a great game, too. He struck out five guys, and they are a good team. That is good baseball right there. We felt like this was a one-run game. They knew it and we knew it.”
Riley Franklin also recorded a single in the win for Pigeon Forge, but it was Loy and his curveball that was the story of the night.
“What was really working was my curveball,” he said. “When I really needed it, I could throw it for a strike. When I wanted to throw it and get a swing and miss, I could throw it for a swing and miss.”
Loy always tries to come out with confidence, but this just shows what he can do when he is dialed in.
The Tennessee commit wants more though, and the hope is that he can replicate some fashion of his magical performance from Monday when it matters the most in the postseason this spring.
“We had a game plan and a pitching plan. We don’t ever go out there and just throw,” Guinn said. “He executed it beautifully. It was just a pitching plan. We went and scouted them, and he did it about as good as he could.”