Gilmer High is in search of its first region baseball win.
The Bobcats were on the field for three games against the Lumpkin County Indians last week, and errors hurt the Bobcats’ cause in games one and two. LCHS took advantage Tuesday for a 13-0 home win before topping GHS in Ellijay on Thursday, 9-2.
The series wrapped up Friday in Lumpkin, and the Indians had to work for all of their runs. Gilmer had its best offensive showing but fell short, 7-3.
Four GHS errors led to seven unearned Lumpkin runs to open the series. The Indians belted 13 hits while GHS was limited to three.
LCHS scored four runs in its first at-bat and led 7-0 after its second. Lumpkin plated a run in the third and five more in the fourth.
The game was called after the Bobcats’ fifth inning at-bat when they could not cut the margin to fewer than 10 runs.
Austin Zabala started the game for GHS and gave up 12 hits and six earned runs over three innings while striking out three and walking one. Hayden Berry took the mound for an inning of relief work and gave up a hit and struck out one and walked one.
Offensively, Bobcats Ethan McCollum, Aiden McClure and Haden West all recorded a hit.
Gilmer had a better offensive performance in game two as it produced seven hits and two runs. GHS pulled ahead 1-0 in the first when Carter Jones singled home Eli Cooper.
However, the Cats committed three of their seven errors in the third inning, which led to five of the Indians’ six runs being unearned. A two-run blast over the left-center field fence gave LCHS an 8-1 advantage in the fourth.
Gilmer added its final run in its half of the inning. Noah Gutillo smoked a double off the right field fence to start the at-bat. A one-out single to center by Brandon Davis cut the Indians’ lead to six runs.
Lumpkin scored a final insurance run in the sixth.
In addition to the aforementioned players, Cooper and Brock Titus both had a pair of hits for Gilmer.
McCollum started for GHS and pitched 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and surrendered 10 hits and three earned runs. West pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and struck out one and walked one.
Gilmer cut its errors down to one in game three, and all of the Indians’ runs were earned. LCHS plated a run in the first and second innings.
Bobcat courtesy runner Mason Smith scored when West grounded out in the third. Lumpkin bumped its lead back to two runs with an RBI single in its half of the inning.
A walk, three singles and sacrifice fly out added three more runs to the Indians’ tally for a 6-1 lead in the fourth, and the Bobcats got their offense going in their ensuing at-bat.
Davis singled and Jones walked to set the stage. An error on Mel Mosley’s line drive to center scored both, and Lumpkin’s lead was trimmed to three.
A double and single added the Indians’ last run of the game in their half of the fifth, and no runs were scored over the final two innings.
Jones lasted five innings and walked one and struck out one while allowing nine hits and seven earned runs. Zabala pitched the sixth and gave up a hit, struck out one and walked one.
Titus, Mosley, Davis and Berry all had a hit for GHS.
Gilmer is 6-10 overall and resumed its region schedule at press deadline versus Pickens. GHS will travel to Pickens Thursday and host the Dragons Friday.
All games are scheduled to begin at 5:55 p.m.
Junior varsity
The junior varsity Bobcats picked up their second win of the season.
GHS hosted Union County March 16, and a walk-off triple by Blake Grizzle gave the Cats a dramatic 7-6 win. Lumpkin was in town the following Monday, and the Indians won in three innings, 15-0.
Versus Union, the Cats’ victory avenged a 12-11 loss to the Panthers on March 13. In Gilmer’s win, the Cats jumped ahead early.
An error accounted for a GHS run in the first, and Union scored in the same manner in the second inning.
Four more runs came for Gilmer in the second. Ben Becerra hit into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded for a 2-1 run lead. A passed ball added another run, and GHS moved ahead 5-1 on Rob Mosley’s two-run double.
A double plated Union’s second run in the third, and GHS responded with a sacrifice fly out to add a sixth run in its half of the inning. A Union sacrifice fly made the score 6-3 in the fifth ahead of the Panthers’ three-run seventh.
A single with two runners on base gave the Panthers a run and glimmer of hope. A two-run Bobcat error evened the score at 6-6, but Gilmer had another big hit remaining.
Mosley reached base on a dropped third strike, and he raced home for the win when Grizzle tripled to center field.
Tyler Pittman pitched 6 1/3 innings for GHS. He struck out eight, walked four and allowed three earned runs off seven hits. C.J. Hatchett got the final outs with two strikeouts.