On Tuesday, February 26th, the Gilmer Bobcats loaded the bus and traveled to Floyd County to faceoff with the Model Blue Devils in a non-region game.

Coach Thurman’s Bobcats battled hard in what turned out to be an exciting extra-inning affair.  The Cats eventually fell to the home team in nine innings by a 3-2 score.  Gilmer jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a leadoff single by Evan Frady that found it’s way into left field followed by a Hunter Bowyer 4 pitch walk.  Both Frady and Bowyer moved up one after a double steal setting the stage for the third place hitter in Austin Daman. Daman ripped a hard ground ball single into left field advancing runners to second and third and loading the pads for Tyler Woody. Woody, Bertolini, and Griggs all sat down by strikeout. During the Griggs at-bat, David Smith, in as a courtesy runner for Frady, crossed the plate for the first run for Gilmer  The Cats scored their final run of the game in the second. Gabe Wolfson led off the inning with a strong double to centerfield and T. Wright came as a runner for the catcher, Wolfson and advanced to third on yet another wild pitch by the Blue Devils’ pitcher.  Miller popped up to the first baseman for the first out followed by a sacrifice for J. Buckner to push Wright across for the second Bobcat run.  Gilmer was unable to plate anymore run throughout the nine-inning game.  The Model Blue Devils added 2 runs in the bottom of the seventh to force free baseball.

The Game that carried these teams into 9 full innings before deciding a winner, had Gilmer send 3 Cat hurlers to the mound. Getting the start, Evan Frady threw a jewel for six innings allowing 5 hits, no runs, no walks, and 7 strikeouts. Coming to close out the seventh inning and the game with a 2 run lead, Austin Daman took the hill.  In one full inning of work, Model found a way to get the tying runs on and in and continue the game. Daman allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and 2 runs(1 unearned).  J. Buckner came out to start the eighth inning and held Model scoreless forcing another inning to be played.  Bringing the game to a close and handing the Bobcats a loss on the road, the Blue Devils had 2 hits and a sacrifice off Buckner pushed the winning run across.  Totals for the Bobcats for the day were 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 errors while the Winning Blue devils of Model High School had 3 runs on 8 hits and played errorless ball.

Gilmer traveled to Blairsville on Wednesday for another nonregion matchup with the Union Panthers.