By Matthew Sawyer

Murfreesboro Post

MURFREESBORO — Siegel’s Jameson Nephew outdueled Lawrence County’s Luke Boswell, as the host Stars advanced in Region 4-AAA Tournament play with a 2-0 semifinal win Monday night.

Nephew struck out 10 and held the Wildcats to just one hit while walking four to earn the complete game victory.

“I felt good,” Nephew said. “I was just going to try and compete in each inning and see how it went. The fastball was good; it had a good late cut to it. My curveball wasn’t too good early, but I found it later.”

Boswell, the District 8-AAA pitcher of the year, scattered six hits and issued two walks while striking out four.

“Every run was precious,” Siegel coach Craig Reavis said. “Their pitcher did a good job. He was tough to score on. I was proud of our guys defensively. We didn’t make any mistakes and Jameson threw lights out.”

Siegel catcher Jackson Cautheron walked in the bottom of the first and courtesy runner Tommy Nance came around to third on a double by Dylan Taylor. Nance then scored on a balk.

The Siegel lead remained 1-0 until the fifth, much to the preference of Nephew.

“I’d rather pitch a close game,” Nephew said. “It keeps me in the game and gives me something to work towards in keeping them off the scoreboard.”

The final Stars’ run came when Braxton Baird stretched a would-be single into a two-bagger and then was knocked in on a Cautheron triple.

“We like to be aggressive on the bases,” Reavis said. “That’s how we played all year. Braxton did a great job moving up to scoring position and Jackson did a great job with two strikes to drive in the run.”

Lawrence County broke up Nephew’s no-hit bid as Colton Moore led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to left field. Nephew answered with a pair of strikeouts before inducing a groundball to force Moore and end the contest.

Siegel will face a familiar foe in Wednesday’s region finals when it plays at home against Stewarts Creek, a 5-1 road winner Monday over Lincoln County.