The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

Green Hill improves to 6-1 in ‘complete game’ win over Gallatin




First-year Green Hill coach Justin Albertson fist bumps Christian Taylor at third base. By Phil Stauder

A new shade of green has suited Justin Alberson well. 

The former Greenbrier baseball coach officially took over the same position at Green Hill in September, and his Hawks team picked up their sixth win in seven tries with a five-inning, 11-0 decision over Gallatin in the first day of the Wilson County Invite. 

“I think it was probably our first complete game that we’ve had,” Alberson said. “Offense, pitching, defense – everything was really solid. I’ve said this quite a bit: game by game, I feel like we’re getting better, and I feel like we put it all together tonight.”

Green Hill’s pitching had been a strength through the first two weeks of the season. Junior Micah Summar started the week off with the first no-hitter in program history against Cookeville, and as a staff the Hawks held a combined 2.00 ERA entering Friday’s game.

It was more of the same on the mound against Gallatin – sophomore Logan Barney threw a complete-game shutout in his first start – but their offense was strong as well. 

Green Hill racked up 11 runs off a season-high 10 hits. They drew seven walks and struck out just once on the evening. 

“We’ve been hitting great these last few games,” Barney said. “It’s just going up there and having fun. Just playing some ball.

“It felt great to be able to come back and pitch after hurting my (rotator cuff) at the beginning of the year. I’m just loving getting to play with these guys right now.”

The Hawks scored five runs in the first and fourth innings and added one more in the third to enact the run rule. 

Christian Taylor and Tate Riley each recorded multiple RBIs. Among those with two or more hits were Taylor, catcher Adam Partin and outfielder Landon Dalton. 

Green Hill picked up its fourth consecutive win after suffering its first loss to Clarksville Academy last Thursday. Their wins include reigning District 8-4A runner-up Smyrna, District 8-3A runner-up Page and Class 4A state semifinalist Riverdale.

“We put our head down and we go to work,” Alberson said. “That’s kind of all it is, really. There’s no secret or anything else. We just work incredibly hard as a staff, and the kids work incredibly hard as players.”

Following a 5-0 defeat at Friendship Christian on Thursday, the loss was Gallatin’s second straight game in which it was shut out. 

The Green Wave (5-3) opened the season 4-0 for its best start since 2016, but they totaled just four hits on Friday and needed three pitchers to get through four innings of work.

“It’s not always about trying to do too much; it’s what the team needs,” Gallatin coach Mark Wilson said. “Whether it’s a bunt (or) whether it’s going to the right side of the infield to get a runner across, those things come with baseball IQ. We need to grow up a little bit in our baseball IQ.

“We’re going to decide whether or not we’re going to be good, and that comes with a process.”