Gilmer High took on the Northwest Whitfield Bruins last week to kick off its region baseball slate. The series was originally scheduled to take place across three days, but uncooperative weather dictated otherwise.
The series began Thursday at Northwest. The game was delayed as extra time was needed to get the field in a playable condition because of frequent rain. Once the teams were able to play, the Bruins overcame an early deficit for a 4-2 win.
The teams met in Ellijay for a doubleheader the following day, as gusting winds dropped the temperature into the mid-30s. Bruin ace Hank Bearden held GHS in check for a 7-0 victory.
NHS completed the sweep as walks and errors started to rack up in the third game. After GHS took an early five-run lead, Northwest responded with its own big inning and overtook the Bobcats en route to a 14-11 win.
“For both teams, it was a situation where we needed to get the games in to prevent getting backed up even more (in the schedule),” GHS coach Jeff Thurman said of the unfavorable playing conditions. “At least the conditions were the same for each team. It wasn’t any colder or wetter for us than it was for them.”
Gilmer was also without starters Zach Miller, Seth Darling and Branson Teague in game three.
“We’re dealing with some injuries right now that’s really setting us back,” Thurman said. “We’re missing three starters, and all three of them are also pitchers. I kind of look at it as missing six players.”
Gilmer’s patience paid off in the first inning of game one. Both Jess Buckner and Gabe Wolfson walked, and Teague did the same with two outs. Tyler Wright was hit by a pitch, and Gilmer’s first run strolled home.
A solo homer by Bearden tied the game in Northwest’s half of the inning, but GHS had an answer when it came to bat in the second.
With two outs, Buckner singled home Sam Davis, who reached on an error. Unfortunately for the Cats, Spencer Merritt collected Gilmer’s final hit in the next inning.
A one-out double by Bearden tied the score again in the bottom of the third. A sacrifice fly allowed NHS to pull ahead 3-2 in the fifth. A Bobcat error gave the Bruins their fourth run in the sixth inning, and GHS was retired in order in the seventh.
NHS outhit GHS 8-2, and the Bobcats struck out 12 times. Buckner tossed all six innings for Gilmer. He struck out four and walked three, and one of the Bruins’ runs was unearned.
Bearden earned the save in game one and started game two the following day. With a fastball in the low 90s and a slider that had GHS hitters diving out of the batters box, he struck out 12 and limited the Cats to one hit.
NHS had seven hits on the day, and three of its runs were unearned. The Bruins got on the board in the first with the help of two walks and three singles for three runs.
Northwest added two more runs in the third and one in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Buckner broke up Bearden’s no hitter when he led off the bottom of the seventh with a single before three more strike outs.
Blake Zabala started the game for GHS and pitched five innings. He gave up five hits, struck out four, walked six and allowed four earned runs. Grant Cochran pitched the final two innings and struck out four, walked two and gave up two hits.
Game three of the series dragged along as the teams combined for 20 walks. There were seven errors in the game, which led to eight of 25 runs being unearned.
NHS scored in the first without getting a hit as it took advantage of a hit batter, a wild pitch, passed ball and sacrifice fly. GHS evened the score in its half when Wolfson reached on a fielder’s choice.
Three walks, a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly added the Bruins’ next two runs in the second. Gilmer’s at-bat started with five straight walks before a single by Buckner gave GHS a 5-3 lead.
Wolfson reached base on an error as two more Bobcats crossed home plate. Wolfson was balked home to cap the Cats’ seven-run inning, and their lead increased to 8-3.
An error gave NHS its fourth run in the third inning before the Bruins pulled ahead in the fourth. Northwest only had one double but scored six runs with the help of two errors, two walks and a hit batter.
With a 10-8 lead, NHS plated three more runs in the fifth and scored another in the seventh.
Gilmer’s final three runs crossed home plate in the sixth. Merritt and Wright both had an RBI single, and an error added Gilmer’s 11th run.
Merritt, Wright, Zabala, Buckner and Levi Marshall all collected a hit for GHS.
Pitching: Wright 3 1/2 IP, 1 H, 9 R, 2 ER, 3 K, 6 BB. J. Rhodes 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 K, 4 BB. Cochran 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 2BB.
“The guys battled and never gave up,” Thurman said. “We were in two of the three games. Even when we faced Bearden, I don’t think our guys were intimidated. In the other two games, we had opportunities to win, were up in each game and just couldn’t hang on.”
Gilmer is 2-9 overall and traveled to Union County at press deadline.