SMYRNA, Tenn. — Marion County baseball coach Steven Roberts stared blankly back at the faces of his players. He knew no words from him would soothe the way the Warriors had been eliminated from the Class AA state tournament Thursday evening.

An apparent umpire’s error opened the door for four Goodpasture Christian runs in the top of the sixth inning and proved the difference in the Cougars’ 7-5 victory.

With two out, plate umpire George White held up two fingers on each hand to signal a 2-2 count. Joe Muir snapped a curveball over the plate for what would have been the final out, but Goodpasture coaches protested that it should have been only the second strike on Turner Cripp.

After a lengthy discussion with the rest of the umpiring crew, White ruled Cripp would continue batting. On the following pitch, a called ball, White awarded Cripp a walk. The Cougars then blew open what was a 3-2 lead.

“To be honest, I wasn’t for sure what the count was myself,” Roberts said. “What got to me was the umps ask us before a game if our players are properly equipped. None of the other umpires had a pitch counter, which could have made the difference.

“I guess the umps didn’t come to the game properly equipped.”

Sam Griswald was 4-for-4 with four RBIs for the Warriors, who ended the season with a school-record 33 wins.

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