Bainbridge dropped to 1-5 in Region 1-AAAAA (7-7 overall) last Friday after losing both games in a doubleheader against Veterans.

The Bearcats are fourth in the region, with Warner Robins sitting at 0-4 behind them. Bainbridge’s doubleheader against Harris County, who holds third place at 2-2 in the region, is a crucial matchup this Friday at home.

The Warhawks (13-5, 5-1 region) ran away with the first game in the fourth inning when they drove in seven runs to take an 8-0 lead. Their big inning was driven by a single by Korbin Hollensteiner, a single by Jacob Giles, a single by Gabe Holt and a home run by Leyton Pinckney.

Veterans had 11 hits total to Bainbridge’s eight.

Griffin Long and Caleb Boutwell both went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Bainbridge’s offense, but the Bearcats weren’t able to bring home runners until the seventh inning with two runs.

Will Kelley started on the mound for three and two-thirds innings, allowing eight earned runs and striking out one. Nick Barber threw the rest of game. He stopped the bleeding, allowing only three hits and no runs while striking out five.

Game two started strong for Veterans as they banged in four runs in the bottom of the first. Bainbridge looked like it was going to respond positively and keep the game competitive when Long scored an RBI from Nick Barber and Connor Strickland scored off a ground-out from Dalton Harrell in the second inning.

Veterans sensed the threat and added seven runs to the board in the bottom of the second.

Bainbridge had luck at the plate in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, combining for another six runs, but Veterans kept the game out of reach for the Bearcats until the last out.

Long was Bainbridge’s biggest weapon at the plate, going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs. Carson Inlow was 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Clark Wiggins started on the mound for one and a third inning, allowing 10 hits and 11 runs, six of them earned. Dalton Harrell stepped up to pitch for another three and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs and striking out four. Walt Burrell finished the game for Bainbridge with an inning pitched. He allowed one hit and struck out one.

After Friday’s doubleheader with Harris County at the Bearcat Diamonds, Bainbridge heads to Thomas County Central for a key doubleheader on Friday, March 31. The Bearcats final region games come as a doubleheader against Warner Robins at the Bearcat Diamonds on April 7.