The Gilmer High School Bobcats now sit at 3-3 in Region 7-4A play, after sweeping a home doubleheader over the Southeast Whitfield Raiders last Friday that was highlighted by sophomore McKinley Chadwick throwing a no-hitter in game one.

“I’m so proud of McKinley and what he was able to do,” said GHS head coach Jeff Thurman when asked about the no-hitter. “Obviously, it’s very rare that you can pitch a no-hitter at any level. For him to be able to come in here and pitch a no-hitter at home and to do it as a sophomore … he just created a memory that he’ll never forget. He deserves it. He’s been working hard and I’m glad that he got it.”

After beginning the region portion of their schedule by dropping a 10-0 contest to the Heritage Generals March 29, Gilmer snapped a seven-game losing streak by knocking off Highway 515 rival the Pickens Dragons in an eight-inning affair March 31, 6-5.

At home last Tuesday against Ridgeland, Chad Watkins threw a complete game, despite the Panthers pouncing for two early runs. Ridgeland held off the Bobcats to garner a 2-1 victory.

Bobcat Chad Watkins tosses the ball toward first base, during a game against the Ridgeland Panthers last Monday. Watkins threw a complete game in the Bobcats 2-1 loss, striking out six Ridgeland batters while on the hill. (Photo by: Kevin Hensley)

Ridgeland did its offensive damage in the third inning, scoring on a sacrifice groundout and a two-out single. Gilmer cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth, when Drew Healan singled with one out and later scored on an infield hit from Watkins. The Bobcats were unable to generate more offense in the inning and went on to drop the contest.

Gilmer then traveled to Cartersville last Thursday to face the six-time state champion Purple Hurricanes. The Bobcats clawed away throughout the affair, but failed to garner a lead and fell 7-4.

Cartersville scored two runs in the bottom of the second, on a one-out double. The Hurricanes added another run in the bottom of the fourth, on a sacrifice flyout to center.

Gilmer first baseman Tatum Chadwick slides into home on a wild pitch at Cartersville last Thursday. The slide cut the Hurricanes lead down to 3-2, but Cartersville went on to garner a 7-4 victory over the Bobcats. (Photo by: Kevin Hensley)

The Gilmer bats woke up in the top of the fifth. Chandler Sutton, Tatum Chadwick and Will Barnes all singled to begin the frame, before a Healan sacrifice flyout erased the zero from the Bobcats run total. Chadwick sprinted home on a wild pitch to cut the Cartersville lead down to 3-2, but a pair of groundouts prevented the Cats from tying the game.

GHS was unable to hold the one-run deficit, as the Hurricanes scored three runs in the bottom portion of the fifth on a pair of RBI hits and a sacrifice groundout. Cartersville then extended its lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the sixth, after a leadoff triple led to a RBI single.

The Bobcats made things interesting in the top of the seventh. Healan and Noah Ralston both singled to start the inning, while McKinley Chadwick and Avery Sirmans later added two-out hits that loaded the bases. Austin Daman followed with a double that brought Ralston and McKinley Chadwick home to score. However, a strikeout put a damper on the Gilmer comeback attempt and Cartersville claimed the victory.

McKinley Chadwick got the Cats its second region win by hurling a 69-pitch no-hitter in game one of a doubleheader against the Southeast Whitfield Raiders. He struck out two batters and induced 12 groundball outs in the 1-0 win. The lone Gilmer run came in the bottom of the second, when pinch runner Eric Turner scored on a two-out wild pitch.

Bobcats shortstop Noah Ralston applies a tag that ended game one of a doubleheader against Southeast Whitfield last Friday. The double play was a strikeout that turned into a caught stealing, which fully preserved McKinley Chadwick’s no-hitter and a 1-0 Gilmer victory. (Photo by; Kevin Hensley)

Gilmer generated a bevy of runs in the second game of the doubleheader, winning 10-2.

The Bobcats did their first bit of damage in the bottom of the first. Healan singled to start things, while Chad Watkins was later plunked by a pitch with one out. McKinley Chadwick then doubled to plate both baserunners. A double play temporarily dampened the Cats efforts.

McKinley Chadwick nearly replicated his first plate appearance in the bottom of the third, when another one-out double scored Healan. Sirmans then recorded an RBI on a flyout that brought Watkins home to widen the Gilmer lead to 4-0. A groundout then ended the frame.

GHS continued to pile on runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sutton drew a one-out walk, before a pair of respective bunts from Dylan Hatcher and Healan loaded the bases for the Bobcats. Ralston garnered a sacrifice flyout that scored Sutton, before Watkins smacked a triple that extended the Gilmer lead to 7-0. Southeast Whitfield then recorded the third out on a popup to third base.

The Raiders finally scored their first run of the night in the top of the sixth, on a one-out fielding error. However, a pair of strikeouts kept Southeast Whitfield from mounting a rally.

The Bobcats did their final bit of damage in the bottom of the sixth. Healan drew a walk to begin things, while Watkins later singled with one out. McKinley Chadwick was hit by a pitch, before Sirmans drew a walk that scored Healan. Daman then produced a single that plated Watkins and courtesy runner Tyler Jarrard. A strikeout and groundout left the Gilmer lead at 10-1.

Southeast Whitfield mustered one more run in the top of the seventh, on a one-out sacrifice groundout. A flyout then sealed the win for the Bobcats.

“Offensively, we just didn’t do anything against Ridgeland,” Thurman said. “We played great defense and we pitched well, but we just couldn’t get any offense going. We turned our offense around against Cartersville and it really carried over against Southeast. We scored just one run in the first game, but the bats really woke up in game two. I’m hoping that we’re playing our best baseball of the season, right now at the end of the year. Mathematically, we still have a shot at the playoffs, but we have to win the games that we should and maybe one or two that people might be counting us out on.”

The Bobcats now sit at 6-13 (3-3 in region play) for the year.

Gilmer will welcome Northwest Whitfield today, with first pitch set for 5:15 p.m. The Bobcats will travel to Heritage Thursday, before returning home to face Pickens Friday. First pitch for the 515 rematch is set for 5:55 p.m.

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