Bearcats shutout Valdosta in scrimmage
Published 3:30 pm Friday, February 9, 2018
Bainbridge grinded through a scrimmage game with the Valdosta Wildcats Thursday at the Bearcat Diamond, winning 1-0 off a series of hits set up by the senior class.
Caleb Boutwell led off the bottom of the sixth with a double. Griffin Long followed it up with a well-executed sacrifice bunt to move Boutwell to third, and Will Kelley banged out a line drive to left field to plate Boutwell and grab the lead.
“We got a leadoff double by a senior and a clutch base hit, a great bunt by a senior to get him to third and a great hit by a senior to get him in,” coach Brian McCorkle said. “I’m glad to see those guys leading the way.”
The game only had eight hits between the two teams, five for Bainbridge and three for Valdosta. The Wildcats threatened to score in the third inning on a fielder’s choice hit to pitcher Nick Barber, who threw to catcher Long to tag him out at home.
Barber started on the hill for the Bearcats for three innings. He threw one strike and allowed one hit. Dalton Harrell pitched the last four innings, striking out seven Wildcats and allowing just two hits.
“I thought Nick let some at bats get extended on him,” McCorkle said. “Dalton did a really nice job.”
Kelley, Boutwell, Long, Harrell and Quayde Hawkins each recorded one hit for the game.
The win sets up momentum for a big season opener next Tuesday at Lee County.
“It sets the tone that we get off on the right foot,” McCorkle said. “It’s a win tonight. The season starts for real at Lee county on Tuesday. They are another quality program and have been for a long time.”
First pitch is at 6 p.m.