With only four middle schools in the state still alive for the 2023 TMSAA baseball state championship, West Collierville Middle made a well-respected early presence with a demanding 7-1 victory over Mt. Juliet on Friday (May 19).

West Collierville started the game with three straight hits. Leadoff hitter Garrett Stephens smoked a single to centerfield, Jacob Caruso then delivered a base hit to left field, and Preston Sumner hammered a double to right field to give the Dragons an early 1-0 lead. Mt. Juliet got damage control by getting out the WCMS 4, 5, and 6 hitters in the 1st.

Mt. Juliet answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first off Dragon starter Chase Armistead. The Dragons pitching staff was then in complete control for the remainder of the contest.

A two-out rally in the top of the 2nd started by Thomas Starrett's and Stephens' back-to-back doubles, and Caruso's second hit of the day, gave WCMS a 3-1 advantage.

The Dragons added another run in the 5th before breaking the game open with a 3-run sixth.

Stephens was the player of the game. The left-handed hitting third baseman was 4-for-4, scored 4 runs, and had 2 RBIs. Caruso, Sumner, and Starrett each had two hits.

Armistead went four complete innings, allowed just the one run, and struck out a batter. Set-up man Hudson Snell was impressive in his two innings of relief. Closer Jonah Holcomb was lights out to record the final three outs. Both Snell and Holcomb will be available for the championship game.

Only one game remains for the historic season for West Collierville Middle Baseball. The task of bringing home a state title will not be easy. The opponent will be Brentwood's Woodland Middle - a traditional powerhouse in Middle Tennessee in all sports.

First pitch is scheduled for 5:30pm at Drake Creek's Park in Henderson. Get your popcorn ready.