Cats Claw out Clutch Victory: Finish the Phoenix 8-7

The Gilmer High School Bobcats baseball team traveled to Sonoraville to face the Phoenix in Sonoraville’s home opener. The “Cats” came away with an extra inning 8-7 win despite facing a 6-3 deficit going into the top of the seventh inning.Neither team scored in the first three innings. The Bobcats drew first blood with a two run top of the fourth inning. After McKinley Chadwick led off with a single to center field Avery Sirmans’ bunt single put runners on first and third.

A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third.

After Chadwick was tagged out at home on Noah Wilson’s single that put runners on first and third, Sirmans scored on Noah Ralston’s sac bunt.

Dalton Stephens followed Wilson with an RBI double that put the Bobcats up 2-0 midway through the fourth inning; however, the Phoenix rose from the ashes of deficit scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a one run, 3-2, lead into the fifth.

Gilmer tied the game with an RBI stand up double from Chadwick in the top of the fifth.

The bottom of the fifth saw the Phoenix break the tie and a two run home run in the bottom of the sixth increased the Sonoraville lead to 6-3 going into the last scheduled inning.

The Bobcats rallied after Rigdon’s two out stand up double began put the first Bobcat on base. Dylan Hatcher’s walk put two runners on. Chadwick struck out for what would have been the game’s last out; however, he outhustled the throw to first after the catcher’s drop allowing Rigdon to score from third and cut the lead to 6-4.

Sirmans cut the lead to 6-5 with an RBI single, and Ralston walked with bases loaded to tie the game at 6-6. The Bobcats’ defense held strong facing four batters before getting three outs.

The “Cats” clutched the lead with two bases loaded walks in the top of the eighth.

Mayson Carver came in for Rigdon, getting the 8-7 save after giving up a run via RBI sac fly. The win was the second of the season for the Bobcats. Ridgon finished with seven innings pitched and six strike outs. Afterward head coach, James Plouffe, spoke about the win.