Gilmer Takes Game Two of Series From Lafayette

The Gilmer Bobcats welcomed the Ramblers of Lafayette to Bobcat Field on Friday in Doubleheader action and were looking to take a big region sweep.  The Cats won game one of the series at Lafayette on Wednesday 11-0 setting the stage for some great baseball on their home turf.

Game two and first of the day for the two teams started out as almost a carbon copy of the game at Lafayette Field earlier in the week.  Neither the Ramblers nor the Cats could really put any offense together and thus the scoreboard stayed at zero for both teams through four and a half innings.  In the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats broke the scoreless game with a trashing double by McKinley Chadwick and then moving to third on an well placed bunt by Austin Daman.  An error was charged to Rambler pitcher allowing Chadwick to stroll home and  Sam Nicholson, pinch running for the Cats, stole third base and scored on an overthrown ball.

The Cats would hold a 2-0 lead through the fifth.  The Ramblers would finally get to the Bobcats right hander in the top of the sixth scoring two runs of their own against Daman.  Coach Thurman made his way to the hill to bring Will Barnes in to the game and shut down the Rambler attack.  At the end of the seventh the Cats and Ramblers were knotted at 2-2 an would play extra innings to determine the outcome.  Lafayette had the Cats on the ropes by going up by one run in the top of the ninth.  Forcing the Cats to come from behind, the Gilmer athletes fought tooth and nail as Bobcats do.  Chadwick works a walk to start the bottom of the ninth followed by a bunt single from Daman giving the Cats runners on first and second.  Brooks Rosser(1-4) loaded the bases after a bunt single setting the stage for an epic come back victory.  A sacrifice fly by Will Barnes plated Chadwick(1-2, 2 walks) to tie the game at three.  Daman and Wright, a pinch runner, advanced on the throw to home.

Playing the strategy game and try to get a double play, the Lafayette coach intentionally walked Eric Turner to load the bases.  Evan Frady(1-4, 1 walk) was seeing the ball very well and worked a walk forcing Austin Daman(1-4) across the plate for the win 4-3.