The Gilmer Bobcats picked up another region baseball victory last week.
GHS and the Lumpkin County Indians met for a three-game series in the penultimate week of the regular season. Game one was played in Dahlonega and the Indians won in five innings, 13-1.
Game two was in Ellijay and GHS celebrated its senior players. Senior pitcher Jess Buckner tossed a complete game to help the Bobcats earn a 3-2 win.
Game three was a heartbreaker for the Bobcats. They played from behind the entire game before their seventh-inning comeback. The Indians answered with a bases loaded bunt for a 6-5 win.
The Indians took advantage of two walks and hit batter to load the bases in the first inning of game one. An error, four hits and wild pitch followed and the score was 5-0.
A single, double and hit batter loaded the bases in the third for Lumpkin. Following an out, a walk, hit batter and another walk plated a run each time as LCHS extended the lead to 8-0.
Five more runs were scored in the fourth. While Lumpkin collected three hits, they also drew four walks and took advantage of a GHS error for a 13-1 lead.
The Bobcats’ lone run was scored in the third off a one-out single by Buckner. Gilmer could not trim the lead to fewer than 10 runs in the fifth and the game was called.
Branson Teague, Carter Jones and Ethan McCollum each added a hit for GHS. Pitcher Grant Cochran started the game (1 1/3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 K, 4 BB) and was replaced by McCollum (2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 5 BB).
The Bobcats took what the Indians gave them in the first inning of game two, and it led to all three runs.
Following a one-out single to center by Buckner, both Spencer Merritt and Gabe Wolfson were hit by pitches. An ensuing error gave GHS a 1-0 lead. A fielder’s choice plated Gilmer’s second run, and the third trotted home when Jones was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Indians’ first run came in the fourth inning and was unearned. In the fifth, a single followed a leadoff triple to cut the Cats’ lead to 3-2. LCHS advanced a runner to second base in the seventh, but a final fly out ended the game as GHS celebrated a senior night win.
Gilmer had chances to add to its lead throughout the game but left six runners stranded in scoring position. Teague had two hits on the day as Buckner, Wolfson, Jones and Kobe Stonecipher each had one.
Buckner tossed 96 pitches and gave up six hits and an earned run while striking out six Indians.
LCHS got its offense going in the third inning of game three. While GHS got two outs to begin the frame, a walk and single set the stage before a three-run homer.
Gilmer got a run back in its half of the fourth when Cochran flew out to center field to score Buckner.
With a runner at first and two outs, consecutive singles added Lumpkin’s fourth run in the sixth inning. Another single and error made the score 5-1.
In the seventh, a Wolfson walk and a base hit by Cochran got GHS going. However, an ensuing double play appeared to signal the sign of their demise. But the Bobcats were not down yet.
An error kept their hopes alive and cut Lumpkin’s lead to three runs. Consecutive base hits by Colton Nunn and Stonecipher trimmed the Indians’ lead to two. Teague then stepped to the plate and tripled home both to tie the score.
LCHS loaded the bases in its half of the seventh with a bunt and two singles. Another bunt plated the game’s winning run and the Indians claimed the win.
Teague and Buckner both had two hits on the day while Wolfson, Cochran, Nunn and Stonecipher tallied one apiece.
Seth Darling started the game and pitched six innings (7 H, 4 ER, 5 K 1 BB). Teague took the mound for the seventh and allowed three hits and an earned run.
Gilmer has a 5-20 overall record and will wrap up the season this week against Cherokee Bluff. Game two will be played in Ellijay, and game three will be on the road. Both are set to start at 5:55 p.m.
GHS will travel to Southeast Whitfield Thursday for a nonregion game that will begin at 5:55 p.m.