“Cats” Clobber Catamounts 10-0 Before Bobcats Mangle Murray 13-0

The Gilmer Bobcats baseball team had two easy wins in the last week that involved the ten run rule. The “Cats” clawed the Catamounts of Dalton 10-0. A few days later the Bobcats masterfully managed to scalp the Indians of Murray county 13-0. The Bobcats beat the Dalton Catamounts 10-0 in six innings, before the game was called, due to mercy rule. Coach Barr gave the ball to Austin White, and he did not disappoint. White got settled early, as he retired 15 straight batters before giving up a walk in the sixth.

Every pitch was working. His off speed was hanging up and falling sharply at the right time over the plate. He had batters off balance like a one legged gymnast, backing off the plate on one pitch and chasing one outside on the next. The “Cats” defense cradled White’s back with, 14 defensive plays including a double play.

On offense the “Cats” came alive in the third. With White and Marlen Hensley reaching base on back to back singles, Tucker Plouffe’s two run base clearing single put the “Cats” up 2-0. Plouffe later scored on a wild throw down to third. The Bobcats scored a total of three runs in the inning.

In the fifth Plouffe led off with a single. Forrest Bramlett got handed cuffed, pushing a blooper to drop over first base for a hit. Henderson’s RBI sacrifice grounder gave Gilmer a 3-0 lead. Gilmer closed the inning with the score the same.

In the sixth inning Ryan Lowery’s solo homerun over the left field wall, sparked an offensive onslaught. The Bobcats began running the bases like post game conditioning. With two outs and two on, Shane Dale’s RBI grounder scored the 10th run, ending the game.

Monday night the Murray Indians managed zero runs, while the “Cats” could, seemingly do no wrong. Although the results where the similar to the Dalton game, the game was much different. Barr went with sophomore Tucker Plouffe, pitching.

The young, Indians, boasting only one senior and a plethora a seniors, were wrapped up like papooses by Plouffe’s pitching. It truthfully was not much of a contest for the Bobcats and looked more like a scrimmage against a JV team.

Plouffe threw 95 pitches in five innings. He had 11 strike outs and only two walks. Plouffe has a strong fast ball and showed coach Barr he would be able to count on him in the future. At some times he had problems with pitch location. Considering the weak Indian batting line up Plouffe came through for the Bobcats just when coach Barr needed some rest for his other starters. The Bobcats just finished a four game week.

Offensively the Bobcat’s bats got started in the second inning, scoring one run in the first: three in the third, seven in the fourth, and two in the fifth, for a total of 13. Coach Barr let the team swing away and they did just that.

Coach Barr is probably looking forward to having some off days. The team badly needs some down time and some practice days. Gilmer will play Ringgold Thursday at home and Allatoona Friday away, the baseball Bobcats’ biggest back to back test to date.