With all the sophistication of scouting, tracking pitchers, where hitters like the ball and who represents the biggest threat, the game is still no exact science.

What looks to be a trend one day can often turn into something unforeseen the next.

Lawrenceburg knew Tullahoma had an offense. The District 8 champs were racking up runs in bunches during this year's 10-year-old Little League State baseball tournament.

Lawrenceburg also knew the top of Tullahoma's batting order was the key to its offensive success and the engine has driven Tullahoma through the winner's bracket in the double-elimination tournament.

But what Lawrenceburg couldn't have predicted was who would be behind the wheel, driving in runs for Tullahoma, as both teams battled for the state championship trophy Friday night at the Clarksville National Little League Park.

Tullahoma's ninth hitter, Doran Noble, took matters into his own hands, crushing three doubles and driving in three runs as Tullahoma captured the state crown with a 14-1 victory over Lawrenceburg in five innings.

"I just kept hitting them and they kept reaching the fence," said Noble, who finished the tournament as the team's leading hitter for average. "I was like 'Wow!' I couldn't believe it. I just tried to get around the bases as fast as I could."

Noble's winning formula was the result of a new batting stance he practiced with his father Thursday.

"I turned my back foot in just a little," Noble explained. "And I pulled my arms back a little and I got lucky up there and started hammering them. And I just kept hammering."

The rest of Noble's teammates caught fire in the fourth.

After holding a slim 2-0 lead entering the top of the fourth frame, Brandon Johnson and Jake Crabtree each singled to leadoff the inning. After Riley Darden's walk, Noble connected on a deep drive to left field that scored a pair of runs and opened the game up for Tullahoma, 4-0. Leadoff hitter Grayson Grow singled in a run and Noble, who also scored twice in the game, motored around for a 6-0 advantage.

"Ever since districts Doran has come alive," Tullahoma coach Mitchell Wright said. "It's been unbelievable. He seems like he gets better all the time. He says he's a better basketball player than a baseball player. But after (Friday), I don't know."

Tullahoma's two most feared hitters — Scott Jones and Justus Sheffield — followed with a double and a base hit, respectively, to extend their team's lead to 8-0.

Jones terrorized opposing pitchers, cranking three home runs in the tournament while Sheffield's all-around play as a pitcher, hitter and shortstop had crowds applauding his talent.

Sheffield earned Friday's title-clinching victory on the mound after pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts. He struck out the side in the bottom of the third.

"This was a great effort from everyone," Wright said. "We got key hits from the bottom of our order and Justus had a heck of a game for us on the mound."

It was that bottom order that left Lawrenceburg coach Chris Sockwell scratching his head. Tullahoma's final four batters had six of the team's 12 hits.

"I thought we did a great job with their top three batters," Sockwell. "I think we held them in check. But it was the bottom of the order that hurt us. And they didn't get their runs off of errors. They flat-out hit the ball — pounded it."

Lawrenceburg showed patience to begin the game as Sheffield tried to find his spots. Lawrenceburg drew walks in three of their first six at-bats.

But it was Tullahoma who struck first, getting to Lawrenceburg starting pitcher Peyton Sockwell in the top of the second inning.

Johnson smacked a ball into center field that Lawrenceburg misplayed allowing Johnson to advance to second base. After a ground ball from Tullahoma's R.J. Moore moved Johnson to third, Matthew Wright grounded out to second base as Johnson slid home for the 1-0 lead.

Noble's first double came in the top of the third and he would eventually score, beating a force-out throw from Lawrenceburg at third base for the 2-0 lead.

But the fourth inning proved too damaging for Lawrenceburg to recover. Tullahoma banged out seven hits and scored eight runs during the outburst.

Lawrenceburg would get its lone run in the bottom half of the fourth after a pitch from Sheffield got away, scoring Kody Gobble, who reached on a leadoff double down the left field line.

"You know, regardless of the outcome, we're so proud of these kids," Sockwell said. "Nobody gave us a shot to be here and certainly not in the championship game. We have nothing to be ashamed of."

Tullahoma completes a post season that has seen the team go undefeated.

"They stayed focused throughout it all," Wright said. "It's really all about taking care of business that day. And that's what these kids did. They didn't worry about yesterday or tomorrow. They played each game as it came and now they're state champs."

George Robinson is the prep writer for The Leaf-Chronicle. He can be reached by e-mail at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or by phone at 245-0747.