Trojans edge Bearcats 6-5

Published 6:36 am Friday, April 2, 2010

The Lee County High School Trojans scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday in Leesburg to break a 5-5 tie and take a 6-5 Region 1AAAA victory over the Bainbridge High School Bearcats.

The winning run was scored by second baseman Chase Patrick, who singled, went to third on a Matthew Suggs’ sacrifice bunt and came in on a wild pitch.

Bearcats designated hitter Blake Voyles singled with two away in the top of the seventh but was stranded.

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The Bearcats, which were 8-5 overall and 4-3 in Region 1AAAA play going into Friday’s Region 1AAAA home game with the Jones County High School Greyhounds, took the early lead, jumping out front 3-0 with three runs in the top of the second.

Third baseman Tyler Hutchins ignited the second-inning rally with a leadoff double. He came in to score on an one-out single by Voyles. Voyles moved up to second when right fielder Diante Smith walked, moved to third on a passed ball and tagged up and came in to score when second baseman Steven Bench hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Smith followed with a double, driving in Smith with the inning’s third run.

The Trojans bounced back with four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead. A big blow in the inning was a two-run double by left fielder Chase Griffin.

After the Trojans added another run in the bottom of the fifth to go up 5-3, the Bearcats came back with two in the top of the sixth to tie it up 5-5.

Smith singled with one away to start the rally and moved up to second when Bench singled. Catcher Drew Kelley banged out a bases-loaded single driving in Bench with the tying run.

Left fielder Ryan Wade, who walked in the inning, was thrown out at the plate trying to score the go-ahead run from second.

The Bearcats will return to action Thursday, April 8, when they play the Early County High School Bobcats at 5 p.m. in Blakely. They will host the Thomas County Central High School Yellow Jackets in a Region 1AAAA double-header Friday, April 9, at the new BHS field. The first game will begin at 5 p.m.