From Staff Reports

 

ELLAVILLE – It took 12 innings to decide it, but it was better late than never for the Schley County Wildcat baseball team. With one out and a man on first in the bottom of the 12^th inning, first baseman Dylan Windham belted a two-run, walk-off home run to give the Wildcats a dramatic 4-2 victory in Game 1 of a three-game series against Brookstone (BS). As a result, the dramatic win in Game 1 inspired the Wildcats to go on and win Game 2 by the score of 5-4. They are now one more win away from securing another Region 4-A Championship.

In Game 1, the Cougars led 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth. That’s when the Wildcats struck for the tying run. With one out, Windham drew a walk. After Tucker Welch was brought in to run for Windham, Trent Bivins hit into a fielder’s choice, advancing Welch to second. Ashton Goodin then reached first base on a dropped third strike by the BS catcher. This allowed Welch to advance to third.

Welch then scored the tying run on a passed ball.

Both teams went scoreless for the next six innings until the bottom of the 12^th. Dakota Albritton was hit by a pitch to lead things off for the Wildcats. After Dylan Taylor flew out to right field, Windham ended the 12-inning marathon with a two-run homer over the right field fence.

Windham by far had the most success at the plate in Game 1. He went 3-for-4, including the game-winning home run. He scored a run and drove in two RBIs. Dylan Taylor dominated on the mound for the Wildcats. He pitched six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits. He walked none and struck out three BS batters. Lorne Barineau came on in relief of Taylor and pitched another six innings. Barineau gave up no runs on one hit, walked two and struck out two.

In Game 2, the Wildcats found themselves down 4-0 after three and a half innings. However, SC struck for two runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull to within two runs. Albritton was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Taylor then doubled to center field, putting runners at second and third with nobody out. Windham hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Albritton and moving Taylor to third. After Bivins grounded out for the second out, Goodin doubled to right field, driving in Bivins to cut the Cougars’ lead to 4-2.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. With one out, Windham drew a walk, followed by a single by Bivins. Goodin then drew a walk to load the bases for Barineau. However, he struck out for the second out of the inning. With two outs, Trypp Lumpkin reached on an error by the Cougars’ shortstop. This allowed courtesy runner Tucker Welch to score, bringing the Wildcats to within one at 4-3. Bivins then scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 4-4.

The Wildcats were able to hold the Cougars in the top of the seventh, giving themselves an opportunity to win another game in dramatic fashion.

Garrett Peavy led off the bottom of the seventh by reaching on another error by the BS shortstop. Albritton executed a sacrifice bunt, advancing Peavy to second and into scoring position. After Taylor drew a walk, Windham hit into a fielder’s choice, advancing Peavy to third and Taylor to second with two outs. Peavy then scored on another error by the Cougars’ shortstop to win the second game 5-4.

Throughout both games, the Wildcats took advantage of walks, hit batsmen, passed balls and errors committed by the Cougars. In Game 2, SC scored five runs on four hits and committed three errors. BS scored four runs on six hits, but committed four costly errors. Peavy, Taylor, Bivins and Goodin accounted for the Wildcats’ four hits in Game 2.

Goodin started on the mound for the Wildcats. He pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He walked five and struck out two batters. Windham came on in relief of Goodin. He pitched a little over an inning, giving up no runs on one hit. He walked one and struck out one.

Barineau came on late in the game and pitched one inning. He gave up no runs or hits and struck out one.

The Wildcats (22-2) are one win away from the securing another region title. Both teams will meet for a third time, but this game will be at BS in Columbus on Friday, April 19. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.