HIGH SCHOOL

Grace Christian's Hunter Ross shuts down Webb in relief

Troy Provost-Heron
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

CLINTON — Ryan Madders's RBI double in the top of the fifth inning put Grace Christian Academy back on top after it squandered an early 3-0 lead.

Hunter Ross made sure that the Rams would not lose the advantage again.

Ross came out of the bullpen and fired three solid innings to not only preserve the lead, but also allow Grace Christian to extend it in an 8-4 victory over Webb on Friday in the Clinton Invitational.

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“He’s a special player,” Grace Christian coach Mitchell Turner said. “Hunter has been there through thick and thin with us. He’s been on a championship baseball team and a team that competed for a state championship last year, and he said he’s not done yet.”

Grace Christian's Noah Gent, left, is congratulated by Hunter Ross after hitting a home run against Webb on Friday in the Clinton Invitational at Jaycee Clinton City Park.

That experience showed in a matchup between two teams that will be district foes next season.

In his first inning of work, Ross only allowed a two-out single before getting first baseman Tommy Jordan to ground out and end the frame A two-out error in the sixth prevented a 1-2-3 inning.

The Spartans tagged Ross for a run in the seventh after an error and back-to-back singles, but the Rams had already distanced themselves with a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh.

“Any time you play Webb, obviously they are going to put up a good fight,” Turner said. “They’re very well-coached by coach (Parker) Wormsley, so any time you can get a little of a lead and get a gap there, you give a little of an exhale knowing they are going to fight too.”

Those four runs were created by two errors in each inning to cap a game full of miscues for Webb. The Spartans committed six errors in the game, resulting in only two of Grace Christian’s eight runs being charged as earned runs.

Webb's Parker Kendall, left, loses the ball as Grace Christian's Hunter Ross slides into second base on Friday in the Clinton Invitational at Jaycee Clinton City Park.

Over the past several years, Grace Christian has become synonymous with deep state tournament runs. In the early stages of this season, Turner sees the growth needed to continue that success.

“We have a lot of young players, but three of our four captains are seniors and the other is a kid, our starting center fielder Eli Henley, who really hasn’t played consistently (in his career) but now he is,” Turner said. “It’s a young season, but I’m seeing that our guys are growing up quickly and that is due to leadership.”