Bobcats Get By Dragons In Extra Innings

Yesterday, the Pickens High School Dragons varsity baseball team hosted their rivals from Gilmer County, the Bobcats in a 7-AAAA battle. This game was originally scheduled for today, but due to the inclement weather called for today, the game was moved up to Wednesday.

Before the game began, seven women who are battling or have battled breast cancer were honored on the pitchers mound and three of these inspiring women got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

After his stellar performance against Cartersville on Friday, Travis Huffman got the call to start and was once again effective. In the top of the first, Huffman was able to sit Gilmer in order and strike out two in the process. In the bottom of the inning, Huffman was left stranded at third to send the game to the second, scoreless at 0. The Bobcats managed one hit in the top of the second, but nothing else. Four hits and an RBI from Zack Moore and Dillon Champion later gave the Dragons a 2-0 advantage going to the third.

Gilmer was silenced in the top of the third, as Huffman had two strikeouts in the inning, as he again set the Bobcats down in order. The Pickens third came to an end after a promising start when a ball hit by Walker Lawrence unfortunately bumped into teammate Tyler Garner for an automatic out, sending the game to the fourth, with the Dragons still ahead, 2-0.

Three runs came in for the Bobcats in the fourth, as Gilmer got an RBI from Avery Sirmans and the starting pitcher Brooks Rosser, with a third run coming via error. The Dragons countered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth, as Dominic Stephens drew a walk that brought in Moore. Garner drove in Joseph Gossett and Huffman with a two-out single to give Pickens a 5-3 lead heading the fifth.

Gilmer would threaten in the fifth, with runners on second and third, but Huffman was able to induce a fly out for the final out of the inning. Pickens went quietly in the fifth as the game headed to the sixth with the Dragons maintaining a 5-3 lead. In the sixth, the Bobcats had runners on first and second, but were unable to cut into the lead after two strikeouts and a runner caught stealing ended the inning. The Dragons couldn’t stretch their lead in the bottom of the sixth after stranding two runners. Going to the seventh, Pickens led 5-3.

With their final three outs looming, Gilmer was able to tie things up at five with RBIs from Chad Watkins and McKinley Chadwick. After the Dragons loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, Gossett was just barely thrown out at first, to send the game to extra innings with it deadlocked at five.

In the eighth, the Bobcats were able to take the lead after the go-ahead run was walked in. Watkins was able to close things out for the Bobcats as Gilmer came away with the win, 6-5.

 

Gilmer stats:

Rosser went 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits, walking five and striking out two on 62 pitches. He also went 2-3 with an RBI and one run scored

Noah Ralston went 1 1/3 innings, giving up one runs on one hit, walking one and striking out two on 30 pitches and drew three walks and scored a run

Austin Daman gave up two hits and struck out one on 16 pitches. He also went 2-4, with a run scored

Watkins got the save, giving up no runs or hits. He also went 2-4 with one RBI

Drew Healan went 1-4 with a walk and one run scored

Chadwick went 1-5 with a single and one RBI

Sirmans went 2-4 with one RBI and a run scored

Tyler Jarrard went 1-4 with a single and one run scored

 

Pickens stats:

Travis Huffman went six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out nine on 101 pitches. He was also hit by a pitch twice and scored a run

Dominic Stephens went 1-3 with a single and one RBI.

Caleb Brooks went 1-1 with a single

Tyler Garner went 2-5 with a single, a double, and two RBI

Dalton Presley went 1-4 with a single

Walker Lawrence went 1-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored

Zack Moore went 1-3 with a single, a sacrifice and one RBI

Wyatt Gooch went 1-2 with a double, a walk, a sacrifice and a run scored

Dillon Champion went 1-3 with a single, an intentional walk and one RBI

Joseph Gossett was hit by a pitch and scored one run

 

Pickens will next be in action on the road as they take on the Ridgeland Panthers in Rossville on Friday. First pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Gilmer Bobcats will also be on the road Friday as they travel to face the LaFayette Ramblers. First pitch is set for 5:55 p.m.

 

#TeamFYNSports, “Always looking to spotlight young athletes in a positive manner,” is sponsored by: