Playing arguably the best team in Class AAA, the Dawson County Tigers saw their season come to an end with a first round sweep by the Blessed Trinity Titans, 15-0 and 4-2.
Coach Andy Harlins' team came into the May 3 game with a 22-4 overall record and a 12-0 record in Region 6-AAA action.
The Titans have 10 seniors on the team, with eight of them committed to playing at the collegiate level.
Eight former Titans have been drafted by the Major Leagues over the last nine years.
Blessed Trinity is currently ranked No. 3 in Class AAA and No. 16 in all classifications in the state. The Titans will advance to the second round for a match-up with Ringgold.
The Tigers were unable to capitalize in the first after lead-off batter David Chester started the game off with the Tigers' only hit to begin the game.
The Titans erupted for 15 runs on 15 hits to take the first game of the doubleheader on Friday. Eight of those hits were for extra bases with two homers by Nathaniel Maggio and Cody Roberts in the shortened, four-inning affair.
"I think we were just shell-shocked in the first game," said Tiger head coach Jimmy Pruett. "That is a very good team out there. They are loaded with college talent and are fundamentally sound."
After some time off between games the Tigers seemed to relax. Behind the strong pitching of Jeffrey Partington, Dawson County had the opportunity to take game two.
The Titans went up 1-0 after the top half of the first.
Dawson County answered with a run off its own in the bottom of the inning.
David Chester started the inning with a single. Levi Whitmire sacrificed Chester to second base. Tiger Logan Burt hit a bullet to right center that drove in Chester from second base.
Dawson County added another run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Harley Pruitt singled to open the frame. The next batter, Brody Chester, doubled to left center to drive in Pruitt from first base.
Blessed Trinity took the lead in the top of the fifth inning, going ahead 3-2.
Those in attendance witnessed a great play in the sixth inning in the outfield. Pruitt walked with two outs and Dawson down by one run. Up to the plate stepped Brody Chester. Chester took a 2-0 pitch and hit a shot to deep right field. Titan right fielder Cody Roberts turned and ran with his back to the infield, performed a slide and caught the ball on the warning track.
"That catch was amazing. If he doesn't make that play, Brody scores from first base and we have a runner on third in a tie ball game. I think that is the best defensive play I have ever seen," Pruett said.
The Titans pushed across another run in the seventh inning. Dawson County went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh, ending the game and the season.
Offensively, the Tigers had six hits in the second game. David Chester had two singles to lead the offense. Burt and Brody Chester had doubles. The other two hits were singles by Levi Whitmire and Pruitt.
Partington pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and only two walks. He only allowed four runs despite giving up 13 hits to the potent Titan line-up.
"Jeffrey pitched his best game of the season," Pruett said.
Pruett's team will graduate six seniors: David Chester, Hunter Wehunt, Jacob Wilkie, Jeffrey Partington, Mitchell Putnam and Elijah Fitts.
Dawson County finished the season with a 13-15 overall record.