Coach Flint King’s Bainbridge eighth grade Bearcats baseball team defeated the Miller County Middle School eighth grade Pirates 18-3 here Monday to improve their record to 6-4-1.
The game was stopped in the bottom of the fourth inning due to a rule that allows a team that is up by 15 runs after four innings to be declared the winner.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single to right field. The Bearcats bounced right back to score eight in the bottom of the first to take an 8-1 lead.
Center fielder Tristan Manley drew a walk to open the Bearcats first and promptly stole second. First baseman Mark Loeffler drew a walk on a 3-1 pitch and right fielder Devin Morris followed with a single loading the bases.
Third baseman Walt Burrell drew a walk, forcing in Manley with the tying run. The key blow in the inning was a triple by shortstop Dalton Harrell who came in with the fourth run on a throwing error to make it 8-1.
The Bearcats added four runs in the bottom of the second to increase their lead to 12-1.  Third baseman Walt Burrell drew a four-pitch walk to open the inning. He moved up to second on a single to center by catcher Bowen Dodson.
After left fielder Myles Holloway flied out to center for the first out, the runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch. Pitcher Tripp Alford walked to load the bases, Shortstop Dalton Harrell drew a walk to force in the ninth run and center fielder Tristan Manley singled in two more to make it 11-1. The 12th run scored when third baseman Walt Burrell reached on an error.
The Pirates scored two runs in the top of the third on a single, and a wild pitch to cut the Bearcats lead to 12-3.
The Bearcats added two more in the bottom of the third to go ahead 14-3. Right fielder Devin Morris opened the inning with a single and stole second. He came around to score on a ground single up the middle by catcher John Kirkus. A bases-loaded walk to center fielder Aaron Spivey later in the inning forced in the 14th run. The Bearcats scored their final four runs in the bottom of the fourth.
King said he thought his team did well at the plate and in the field.
“We hit the ball well and made their defense work,” he said. “I also thought our defense played well.”