The Bainbridge High School Bearcats defeated the Americus-Sumter High School Panthers 11-3 Wednesday at the BHS fields to improve their Region 1-AAAA record to 10-6.
The Bearcats took command of Friday’s game with the Panthers early when they rallied for five quick runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 5-0 lead. Winning pitcher Stanton Long started the uprising with a one-out double to left field. A pitch then hit third baseman Will Kelley, putting runners at first and second. They moved up to second and third on a fielder’s choice.
Long came in to score when catcher Blake Merchant grounded out for an RBI, putting the Bearcats up 1-0 and Kelley moved up to third. First baseman Seth Hall then singled, driving in Kelley with the second run.
Hall moved up to second on a wild pitch and came in on an RBI double by right fielder Anderson Bailey to make it 3-0. Shortstop Keith Lyle doubled in two more runs in the inning to make it 5-0. An RBI double by the Panthers’ Jacob Fitch in the top of the second cut the score to 5-1.
The Bearcats countered with an RBI single by Seth Hall in the bottom of the second to increase the advantage to 6-1. The Panthers pushed a run across in the top of the third to cut to 6-2. Isaiah Ingram tripled and came home on a double to left by D.J. Harris.
Anderson Bailey singled to center to open the inning and came in on an RBI double to left by Keith Lyle. In the bottom of the third Keith Lyle doubled in a singling Anderson Bailey to make it 7-2.
The Bearcats increased their advantage to 11-2 with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth. The key blow was an RBI double by second baseman Dustin Strickland. The Panthers scored their final run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by D.J. Harrell.
Bearcats coach Brian McCorkle said he was proud of his teams effort against t he Panthers.
“Our pitching was strong and our offense was potent,” he said.
They returned to action Friday when they hosted the Albany High School Indians in a Region 1AAAA game at the Bearcat Diamond. Today at 3 p.m. they will host the Worth County High School in a Region 1AAAA make up game of a Monday, April 13 rain out.
On Monday the Bearcats will travel to Cairo for a 4:30 p.m. Region 1AAAA game with the Cairo High School Syrupmakers at Jackie Robinson Field.