Ooltewah Owls capture 5-AAA title

CLEVELAND — Led by their two Drews, the Ooltewah Owls made the most of their second shot at winning the District 5-AAA baseball championship Wednesday.

After Walker Valley forced a deciding game with a 4-0 win in the first game at Bradley Central High School, the Owls dominated the second.

Drew Williams not only picked up the victory in the 8-0 win, he also belted a two-run double in the fifth inning.

Drew Toth, meanwhile, singled in his first three at-bats, finishing 3-for-5, and the leadoff man set the offensive tone after the Owls were held to four hits in the first game. Ooltewah (24-11) scored a pair of runs in the first inning and had the momentum the rest of the way.

Chase Morrisseey also had a big game with three hits and three RBIs.

"I always love pitching -- I really love it when I go out there with a lead," Williams said. "Getting those early runs really helped and the whole team played great."

Williams also helped himself in the field with some good defensive plays, including a line-drive grab near his head with runners on the corners in the fifth.

Walker Valley's Logan Longwith had three singles, while the Mustangs (24-11) as a team had five hits and five errors. It was a much different performance from the first game of the day.

Starting pitcher Matthew Simmons pitched a four-hitter, frequently keeping the Owls off balance with his slow breaking pitches. Four of the Mustangs' nine hits were doubles.

"We felt like Matt could pitch well and get us to that second game, and he did," Walker Valley coach Joe Shamblin said. "We just ran out of steam in the second."

The Owls will host 6-AAA runner-up Warren County in the region semifinals on Monday, while Water Valley visits 6-AAA champ Cookeville.