Coach Kyle Barr and the Gilmer Bobcats baseball team picked up its third win in a row, with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Bulldogs of Cedartown. Barr called on Shane Dale to get Gilmer past the pesky paws of the Cedartown “Dawgs.”The Dawgs led off with a single; however, the next batter ground out into a four, six, three, double play. After two more singles, the “Dawgs” had runners on first and second with two outs. Dale forced a ground out for the final out leaving two Dawgs stranded. The Bobcats dodged the bullet.

After a lead off ground out, Marlen Hensley hit a stand up double off the right center wall. The next batter would strike out. With two outs and a runner sitting on second, Forrest Bramlett’s RBI single scored Hensley. A pop up ended the inning with the “Cats” cradling a 1-0 lead.

Dale settled in the second inning. He pitched to four batters in the inning; walking one, with a ground out, a strike out, and a pop up. It was a long night for the “Dawgs.”

After giving up one run in the first inning, Cedartown pitcher, Mesta, may have also settled. Sawyer Thompson reached second on a slow roller to third and a wild throw.

With Dale up to bat Thompson stole third and attempted to go home on a wild throw. He was called out in a play at the plate. With one out Mesta struck out Dale and McClure grounded out. The game was slowly becoming classic “Cats” contest.

Banks would lead of the third with a single into left field; however, as he flew past first he caught the Bobcats of guard turning the single into a double. Following a sacrifice ground out, a “Dawgs” RBI stand up double tied the game 1-1. Dale got out of the inning, forcing a fly out.

Morris drew a walk to start the bottom of the third, eventually making his way to third due to errant pitches, and aggressive base running. Austin White reached first on an error from the shortstop. After a successful stealing of second by White, Gilmer had runners on second and third with no outs.

Hensley’s RBI sacrifice ground out, broke the Bobcats’ tie. With one out and a runner on second, Barr called for a hit and run that resulted in Tucker Plouffe running out a grounder and moving White to third. With another successful steal, the Bobcats now had runners on second and third with only one out and a 2-1 lead.

Bramlett’s RBI grounder made the score 3-1. The “Dawgs” picked off Plouffe in a rundown between second and third for the second out. Courtesy runner, Rigdon, stole second. With two outs Henderson stepped into the box and hit an RBI double that scored Rigdon, for the third run of the inning. The next batter would strike out for the third out. The Bobcats led 4-1 after three innings of play.

With a comfortable lead Dale has a smooth fourth. A ground out, pop up and Thompson running one down in the right center gap made for a smooth top half of the fourth for the Bobcats.

The “Dawgs” brought in Gates to pitch the bottom of the fourth. Gates procured a lead off strike out. McClure singled to right field. Morris hit a slow roller to third. The “Dawgs” could not make a play on the roller resulting in the Bobcats having runners on first and second with one out. White hit into a double play to end the inning leaving two Bobcats stranded.

Dale is pitched a great game, good speed, good control, nice breaking ball but the Bobcats are also played extremely good defense. Dale pitched with the confidence of a player who knows that his team is behind him.

Bulldog, Bank, would lead of the fifth with a hard deep hit to right. It looked like it might cause the “Cats” trouble; however, Thompson made a great catch to secure the out, Thompson’s second highlight catch of the day. A fly out and strike out ended the “Dawgs” scoring threat in the fifth.

Hensley drew a walk to start the bottom of the fifth. After a strike out Bramlett drove one to the left field wall. What looked like a sure home run ended up as an out, due to a great defensive effort by the left fielder. After a single from Henderson, the Bobcats had men on first and second with two outs. Thompson grounded out to end the inning leaving two stranded.

In Dale’s last outing he only pitched five innings. Fans began to wonder, if Barr would pull Dale and get work for some of the other pitchers, especially with the “Cats” having four contests in one week. Dale did finish the sixth, retiring the side, one, two, three.

The “Cats” failed to score in the bottom of the sixth, despite Dale leading off and reaching first via error. A sacrifice bunt and two strike outs ended the inning.

Dale was three outs away from a complete game. Two fly outs and a ground out ended the game, with a Bobcats 4-1 win.

A win is a win is a win. Three in a row. Coach Barr got what he needed, a complete game out of his pitcher, and Dale got what he needed, the support from the Bobcat defense, especially Thompson making some nice run down catches. The “Cats” also cut down the number of stranded runners, from 13 to seven.