The 2022 Central High baseball season has officially begun. The Pounders started out playing three pre-season games, tying 1-1 against Boys Buchanan High School. The team came out on top against Chattanooga Christian School with a score of 8-3 and also won against Grace Baptist Academy with a score of 12-1

Opening day for the Pounders began on Monday, March 14 at Soddy Daisy High School. Junior Elijah Dill started out on the mound for the Pounders. In the second inning, Junior Keaton Hesson, hit an RBI, causing Senior Kion Jones to score the first run of the game. The end of the second inning ended up having a score of 4-1, with Soddy Daisy in the lead.  The Trojans scored one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Dill was pulled off the mound, and Junior David Kanerva was brought in to pitch. In the top of the fifth inning, senior Devin Seuman hit an RBI, which allowed Brayden Poythress and Elijah Dill to score. The score at the end of the fifth inning ended up 5-3. Kanerva was taken out at the top of sixth and Sophmore Landen Poythress was brought in to pitch. Poythress didn’t allow any runs scored. The Pounders weren’t able to score any more runs; they were down two runs at the end, with the final score being 5-3.

The next day, on Tuesday, March 15, they played Soddy Daisy at home. This was an overall unsuccessful game for the Pounders. Senior Devin Seuman started out pitching. The Trojans managed to score 4 runs in the first inning. No runs were scored by either the Pounders or the Trojans in the second through fourth inning; however, the Trojans scored 5 runs in the fifth inning. Junior Dylan Brown came in to pitch in the fifth inning. The Trojans scored three more runs during the sixth inning, making the score 12-0, causing the game to have an early ending.

“I feel like we have a lot to work on as the season progresses. We had a few good hits, but they just hit to the wrong spots,” shared Brown.

The Pounders took part in the Wildcat Classic from March 17 to March 19. They started out with a double header on Thursday, March 17. They first played Sale Creek High School. In the sixth inning, Junior AJ Copeland hit a single home run. The Pounders couldn’t pull through and lost with a score of 3-1. Later that day they played South Pittsburg High School and lost once again with a score of 13-3. The Pounders were scheduled to play Providence Christian Academy, but the game was cancelled due to weather. On Saturday, March 19, the last day of the Classic, the guys played Mount Juliet Christian Academy. Thankfully, the Pounders pulled through and won this game with a score of 2-1. The runs were scored by Senior Devin Seuman and Junior Ben McBride.

“We had some bright spots and we have some things to work on, but the season is young and we have time to make adjustments. All the boys can do is keep swinging,” commented Head Coach Glen Carter

Readers can view the latest sports updates on the sports center page. This is where schedules, scores, and rosters will be posted. All sports, including baseball, will be updated frequently with scores, updates, and more, so be sure to check back up here at the Central Digest.