Horns Baseball went 5-0 last week, honored seniors

Entering play this week, the Johnson County baseball had gone 22-10 during the past calendar year. And second-year coach Nick Perkins is pleased to point out many of the reasons. The fingerprints of seniors Carson Jennings, Kaden Blevins, Avery Jones, Chris Wilson and Ethan Smith are all over the majority of those victories. "Carson Jennings is steady, consistent," Perkins said. "There's a quiet, competitive fire that burns deep within him. It's almost like having a player-coach on your roster, someone you can depend on and someone you respect their opinion and point of view. "Kaden Blevins is one of the most dynamic offensive players, as I've stated before, in Northeast Tennessee. He's a versatile offensive player, can play all over the field. When healthy, he's very good on the mound." Jones, who will play college football at Pikeville, has produced this season despite injury, but has decided to have season-ending surgery on Thursday to be ready for fall football camp. "Avery has been healthy the last several weeks and has proven to be a legit baseball player," Perkins said. "If he'd been healthy all season he'd be having an all-conference type of season. He's a power bat that doesn't swing and miss much. "Chris Wilson is a dynamic center fielder. He's very fast. We hope to get him on base more as we conclude the season here to utilize his speed on the bases." Smith, a crafty pitcher, has put together a solid swan song. "Ethan Smith may be the most improved pitcher on the team from 2025," Perkins said. "He continues time in and time out to give quality innings on the mound." Another senior Perkins said he can count on is Colton Grindstaff. "Colton's had a tremendous attitude and gives us a potential power bat off the bench that can run into one," Perkins said. "It's a great senior class. I'm really appreciative of what they've done for me as their head coach and what they've done for Longhorns baseball." Johnson County improved to 15-8 with five wins last week. The Longhorns swept a doubleheader at Holston (Va.) on Monday (April 13). Jones was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs during an 11-5 win. Blevins (2-for-4, double, RBI) was also productive, and Grayson Day and Smith had two hits apiece. The Longhorns won the nightcap, 15-0. Smith struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings. Jennings and Jones each had two hits, and Jones had a double and two RBIs. The 'Horns swept Tri-Cities Christian – 14-0 and 8-3 – at home on Thursday. Sawyer Marshall tallied three RBIs and Jennings doubled and drove in two runs in the opener. Jennings, Blevins and Jones had two hits apiece in the 8-3 win. Jennings homered in a 15-0 win against Bethel Christian (N.C.) on Friday. "Carson Jennings took the best swings last week that he has all season," Perkins said. Johnson County will attempt to secure the No. 3 seed for the District 1-AA tournament when it visits Chuckey-Doak on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Black Knights won 7-4 at Johnson County on March 19. "We know we lost 7-4 at Pete Pavusek Memorial Stadium," Perkins said, "and we know three of those runs were a balk, a ball where the catcher's throw back to the pitcher got away from the pitcher and a pickle – a rundown – that we botched. But they're good, and they're gonna be even tougher at home. We know we must play well." Johnson County will host a first round game in the district against the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. The tournament's final rounds will be played at Elizabethton.