Waves off to hot start

 By BROWNIE ROSE

Brownie Rose

Midway's J.T Gibson brings home a pitch.

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Roane Newspapers

The Midway Green Waves improved to 2-0 on the season after an 8-5 win over visiting Tellico Plains on Friday. 

The Green Waves were supposed to play a doubleheader Saturday at Oneida, but the weekend rain forced postponement until another weekend. Midway played at home Tuesday against Cosby and then they will take six days off and will play at Grace Christian Monday.

Hoping to save pitching arms for later in the season, Midway head coach Darrell Ruffner scheduled a light schedule early this season. The play schedule will pick up in due time, but for now the Green Waves are happy with the 2-0 start. 

Senior pitcher J.T. Gibson was spotted a 5-0 lead and worked six innings to get the win against Tellico Plains. Gibson gave up three runs on six hits, but struck out nine in the six innings. He only issued two walks, which is a marked improvement over this time last year.

Josh Manning came on to get the save and allowed two runs on one hit and a walk. He struck out the side in the seventh inning.

Midway took the lead for good with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. 

Paul Wiley and Jack Henderson led off with walks and after an out, Paul Hester reached on an error that allowed both Wiley and Henderson to score. Wakon Roberson singled and stole second before Jonathan Barnett singled to drive in Hester and Roberson. Jake Parkison reached on an error that allowed Barnett to score the fifth run.

Manning singled in the second and Roberson walked, but neither would score.

Tellico Plains cut the lead to 5-3 with a three runs in the third, but Gibson would hold the Bears off through the next three innings. 

Midway failed to put runners on base in the third and fourth innings, but did pick up two runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 7-3.

Roberson began the fifth with a single and a steal of second. After a pair of outs, Austin Keeling ripped a double to left that scored Roberson. Gibson followed a walk then Wiley doubled to center field to drive in Keeling.

Midway tacked on a single run in the sixth inning to go up 8-3. 

Manning singled to begin the inning. After an out, Roberson bounced into a fielder’s choice forcing Manning out at second. Roberson stole second and scored when Barnett reached on an error.

Tellico Plains did score two runs in the seventh on a two-run home run, but Manning settled down and struck out the next three batters to preserve the win.