Fireworks seem likely in the finish to the TSSAA District 6-3A championship game between Signal Mountain and Soddy Daisy.
There was certainly electricity in the air Friday night.
Soon after Keith Scoggins' three-run triple to right-center field cut Soddy Daisy's deficit to 9-7 with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, lightning struck — and was followed by a massive downpour on Red Bank High School's baseball field, the host venue for the game.
Within 30 minutes of the delay beginning, the teams agreed to suspend play for the night and pick back up at 3 p.m. Saturday, barring more inclement weather and if field conditions permit play. Cooper Poe will be the first up to bat for the Trojans (25-6).
"We have an inning and a half left, and I think the finish to this district championship game is going to be an absolute dog fight," Signal Mountain coach Josh Gandy said. "Whether that is tomorrow or Sunday. Umpires wouldn't leave the World Series like this. We want to finish it and they do, too. There is a lot up for grabs."
Signal Mountain's bats have already produced 10 hits in the matchup, with half of those going for extra bases.
Barrett Anderson and fellow senior Ben Timblin homered in the first two innings for the Eagles (22-8).
Anderson jumped on a full-count offering and sent a towering fly ball down the right-field line and over the fence for a 2-0 lead in the first. In the second, Timblin — the state leader in home runs this season and tied for second in the nation, according to MaxPreps.com — sent his 13th homer of the year over the 30-foot batter's eye beyond the center-field fence that stands 370 feet from home plate.
"We had batting practice today after school, and Ben was not happy with his swing," Gandy said of the Wofford signee, who is batting .573. "He stayed another 40 minutes taking more swings until he was satisfied.
"That's the type of work he puts in every day. You can see the results, but what people don't see is how much work he puts in every single day. That's what makes him special. He has a great swing and is a powerful kid."
Cash Keene's third hit and second double of the game cleared the bases in the top of the sixth to provide a 9-4 lead for the Eagles, who had seven players with a hit in the game, including Max Rackel with two and a pair of RBIs. Vance Wilburn, batting ninth in the lineup, hit a double that tied the game at 4, while Rackel's line-drive single to center gave Signal Mountain the lead in the fifth.
Soddy Daisy has six hits in the game, with three of those coming from Logan Williams in the ninth spot. Jake Jackson has a pair of RBIs for the Trojans.
Neither Signal Mountain's Timblin or Soddy Daisy's Poe will be able to return to the mound on Saturday, as both were over 40 pitches thrown in the game and must have one day of rest to comply with TSSAA pitch count rules.
GHSA soccer semifinals
Johnson-Gainesville 1, Northwest Whitfield 0: The surprising run by the Bruins (9-8-4) in Class AAAA ended at top-ranked Johnson, which used a goal by Junior Castillo with less than three minutes to play to advance to next week's championship game.
Georgia Military College Prep 4, Christian Heritage 2: In a rematch of last season's title match won by the Lions, the visitors pulled even at the halftime horn on a breakaway goal by Owen McCabe, then scored three times in the first 10 minutes of the second half on their way to the win in Dalton. Jose Ojeda and Luis Salanas scored goals for Christian Heritage (9-5).
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.