The Gilmer Bobcats snagged another victory as they continued to navigate their nonregion baseball schedule.
GHS was on the field for three games last week, and Murray County was up first Monday. The Indians defended their home turf for a 12-4 win.
Gilmer was at home the following day and this time the Bobcats won handily. It took just five innings to down Gordon Central, 10-0. The Bobcats hit the road two days later against Cherokee Bluff. The former region foe defeated GHS, 13-1.
Despite the final score, Murray did not put the game away until the sixth inning. Up to that point, the Indians had secured a 6-4 lead. However, their six-run sixth was the result of GHS control issues. MCHS did not record a hit in the inning, but four walks and five hit batters plated six Indians.
Murray outhit GHS 5-4. Gilmer’s Austin Zabala had two hits and one RBI. Ethan McCollum drove in a pair of runs and had one hit along with Hayden Berry.
GHS pitching: McCollum 4 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 9 K, 5 BB. Cooper Cochran 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 2 K, 2 BB. Eli Cooper 1/3 IP, 1 K. Haden West 1 ER, 2 BB.
Gilmer did most of its damage in the early innings versus Gordon Central. Zabala set the stage with a lead off triple and the Bobcats led 1-0 on Cooper’s ensuing single. After Carter Jones’ sacrifice bunt, Brock Titus double to left for the Cats’ next run.
GHS went up 3-0 on McCollum’s base hit. Four more runs came in the second. Zabala’s sacrifice fly scored Berry, and Cooper’s sacrifice bunt scored West. A Titus single plated another run, and Gilmer moved a ahead 7-0 on a GCHS error.
Berry and West got the sixth inning going with back-to-back walks. Zabala flew out to center for his second RBI of the game. Titus recorded his third RBI when he was hit by a pitch after both Jones and Cooper walked. Cooper then raced home on a wild pitch to bring a premature ending to the game.
Cooper drove in two runs as well and Aiden McClure had one RBI. Zabala tossed a one-hit shutout and fanned 10 batters while walking one.
Cherokee Bluff limited GHS to two hits Thursday. The Bears racked up nine hits and scored two runs in the first, six in the second, two more in the third and three in the fifth.
Gilmer’s lone run came in the fourth when McClure singled. Jones also notched a hit for the Bobcats.
GHS pitching: Jones 1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 8 ER, 4 BB. Cochran 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 2 BB. C.J. Hatchett 1 IP, 2K. West 1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER 1 BB.
GHS has a 3-3 record and hosts Southeast Whitfield Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The Cats will travel to Southeast Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. game.