The Gilmer High Bobcats hit the road for a pair of nonregion baseball games last week.
GHS traveled to Coosa Monday and the Eagles came on strong in the sixth inning. They forced an early end to the game and handed Gilmer a 10-0 defeat.
The Bobcats earned a much-needed win Wednesday against the Union County Panthers. Bobcat Gabe Wolfson came up with two clutch hits for three RBIs as Gilmer won, 3-2.
“We had a rough start and gave up three runs in the first inning,” GHS coach Jeff Thurman said of Gilmer’s game against Coosa. “Then (pitcher) Jess Buckner settled in, and we started playing good defensively. We just couldn’t do anything offensively.
“We had two outs on them in the bottom of the sixth and the wheels fell off. We had some questionable calls made against us, made a couple of errors, and next thing you know, they scored seven runs. The score was not indicative how close the game was.”
Coosa had three hits in the first, which included a double as the Eagles jumped to a 3-0 lead. Over the next four and a half innings, neither pitcher allowed a run as GHS left three runners stranded in scoring position.
Coosa’s first two batters were retired to begin the sixth before a wave of runs came crashing down on the Bobcats. Over the next eight batters, the Eagles racked up a triple and four singles mixed in with three walks as they erupted for seven runs.
The 10-0 lead brought an early end to the game as Gilmer was saddled with its 10th loss of the season.
Coosa outhit GHS, 11-3, and all of the Eagles’ runs were earned. Buckner tossed 5 2/3 innings and struck out one and walked four.
Wolfson, Tyler Wright and Ashton White each had a hit for Gilmer.
GHS was able to snap its six-game losing streak two days later at Union County.
“We were able to turn it around against Union County, which is exactly what we needed,” Thurman said. “They’re a solid team and to win a close game at Union was definitely a positive for us and probably one of the better games we played all season. We got some hits with runners in scoring position.”
A first-inning Wolfson double scored Blake Zabala, who led off the inning with a single.
The Panthers evened the score in their half of the second, and a familiar face was there once again for Gilmer in the fifth.
Wolfson’s second double of the game plated White and Zabala to give the Bobcats a two-run cushion. In the sixth, Union threatened with a walk and single for a run to begin the inning. However, a groundout, popout and strikeout allowed Gilmer to maintain a one-run advantage.
When UCHS came to bat in the seventh, the Panthers were retired in order, and the Cats picked up their third win of the season.
Grant Cochran started the game for GHS. He pitched two innings, gave up four hits, an earned run and one walk.
Zabala pitched the next three innings and got the win while allowing an earned run, striking out three and walking two. Jake Rhodes took the mound for the sixth and seventh innings and earned a save.
“Grant is just a sophomore and has done a great job and has really been a bright spot on our pitching staff this year,” Thurman said. “He’s exceeded our expectations, and after that, we brought in Zabala, another sophomore. He did a great job and we followed that up with Jake Rhodes, and he was able to get the save.”
Aside from Wolfson’s offensive performance, Zabala, Buckner, Spencer Merritt and Wright all had one hit for GHS.
Gilmer was still without Zach Miller, Seth Darling and Branson Teague, who all missed their fourth game in a row.
“We still have some injuries and are trying to get guys healed up,” Thurman said. “We’re missing three starters and three of those guys are pitchers, too. You find yourself putting guys in different positions where they haven’t been getting reps, it changes your whole batting order and changes the way you use your pitching staff.”
The Bobcats are 3-10 overall and their season has been suspended as Gilmer and surrounding school systems are closed because of the Coronavirus.
Gilmer schools are currently closed until April 13, and the final week will be its spring break holiday.
“I met with region coaches online, and Whitfield schools are closed until April 6 and Pickens is out for two weeks,” Thurman said.
“We won’t be able to start up region play until April 6, and that’s a tentative plan and the best possible scenario.”