The Gilmer Bobcats squared off against one of the hottest baseball teams in Class 3A.
GHS met archrival Pickens (19-3) for a three-game series last week, and the Dragons got the sweep. Gilmer was plagued by defensive errors all series, and the majority of the Dragons’ runs were unearned.
Game one was the closest, and the Dragons defeated GHS 7-1 on the Bobcats’ home field. Pickens then secured a 12-2 home win before downing the Bobcats 12-0 in the series finale.
“We did not play very well at all, combined with Pickens being a very good baseball team, it just didn’t make for a good week for us,” said head coach Jeff Thurman. “We know we didn’t play well, and it’s not necessarily going to get any easier anytime soon in our region. We just have to keep getting better and keep the kids’ heads up and eliminate the mistakes on defense. We haven’t been executing and have made a lot of mental mistakes that force physical mistakes.
“I feel bad for our pitching staff. Even though they probably haven’t been at their best within the last week or two, they’ve still pitched well enough to keep us in ball games even though you may not be able to tell by the scores.”
GHS was limited to one hit in game one, and it came off the bat of Haden West for a seventh inning RBI. Five Gilmer errors led to four unearned runs for the Dragons.
Pickens led 1-0 after an inning and plated two runs in the third and three in the fourth. PHS added its final run in the seventh.
GHS pitching: Ethan McCollum 3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 4 BB. Cooper Cochran 1/3 IP, 1 K, 1 BB. Hayden Berry 1 IP, 1 H. West 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB.
The Cats took a brief lead in the third inning of game two. Aiden McClure walked to start the frame and scored when West grounded out. Austin Zabala singled and scored on a Dragon error.
Two of the Bobcats’ three errors came in the Dragons’ half of the inning. Pickens also collected three hits, and took advantage of a walk and hit batter to open a 6-2 advantage.
PHS added two more runs in the fourth and four in the fifth for a run-rule victory. Only four of Pickens’ 12 runs were earned.
Brock Titus, Eli Cooper and McCollum also added a hit for Gilmer on the day. GHS pitching: Zabala 4 IP, 5 H, 4 K, 4 BB. Cooper 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB. West 1 BB.
PHS tallied seven hits in game three, and five Bobcat errors accounted for 10 unearned runs. PHS led 5-0 after the first inning and 10-0 after its third at-bat. Two insurance runs in the fifth helped bring an early end to the game.
Bobcats Zabala and McCollum each had a hit. GHS pitching: Carter Jones 2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB. Noah Gutillo 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 4 K, 1 BB. Cooper 1 IP.
Gilmer has a 6-13 record and faced Wesleyan at press deadline. GHS will host the Wolves for a Thursday double header beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
The junior varsity Bobcats swept Fannin County last Wednesday in a double header.
The Rebels hosted GHS, and each game was limited to five innings. The Bobcats followed up a 7-6 win with a 4-1 victory in game two.
GHS got its first run of the day on a Rebel error. RBI singles by Ben Becerra and C.J. Hatchett gave Gilmer a 3-0 edge. FCHS plated a pair of runs in the third. Two singles were followed by a sacrifice fly and groundout.
Tyler Pittman and Deacon Shull started the Bobcats’ next at-bat with singles, and Becerra’s double to right scored the former. Hatchett drew a walk to load the bases, and GHS added a run when Rob Mosley walked. The Cats’ lead stood at 6-2 when Mel Mosley did the same. A sacrifice flyout by Blake Grizzle scored Gilmer’s final run.
FCHS rallied for four runs in its half of the fourth. While they only managed one hit, four walks and a GHS error aided the Rebels’ cause.
Pittman took the mound in the fifth and walked one and struck out two to earn the save. Landen McClure started the game and pitched four innings, allowed four earned runs and four hits while striking out four and walking six.
A passed ball accounted for Gilmer’s first run in the opening inning of game two. Grizzle stole home in the fourth for a second run, and FCHS plated its only run in its half of the inning.
Neither of Gilmer’s runs in the fifth were earned. Kanyon Connel reached base on an error and scored when Rob Mosley grounded out. Hatchett singled, and later scored on a second Rebel defensive miscue.
Hatchett got the win and pitched four innings. He struck out two, walked two and gave up one earned run off three hits. Pittman pitched the fifth inning and struck out the side.
The JV’s record is 4-7 on the season.