Bobcats endure late Bulldog rally

The Smyer Bobcats endured a seventh inning rally by the visiting Tahoka Bulldogs, coming away with a 5-4 UIL District 4-2A High School Baseball game last Saturday.

Kaden Price was the winning pitcher, going six innings with five hits, four runs and nine strikeouts before coming out within the top of the seventh on pitch count.

Caleb Clausen walked two and Shawn Barrett had two strikeouts in an inning of relief.

The Bobcats sent Tahoka down 1-2-3 in the first inning with a ground out, a fly out and a strikeout.

Austin Martinez grounded out to second to start the bottom of the first inning.

Colton Burris walked, then Shawn Barrett hit a pop fly and reached second base on an error at center field, advancing Burris to third.

That brought Aiden Martinez up. On ball two, with a 2-2 count, Tahoka’s catcher lost the ball and Burris came home, while Barrett took third base.

Aiden Martinez went down swinging to end the inning.

The second inning was another 1-2-3 affair for Tahoka in order, a ground out, a strikeout and a ground out.

Price walked to start the bottom of the second inning. Cameron Gutierrez came in as a courtesy runner, but was tagged in an attempt to steal second on ball one for the first out of the inning.

Ben Steele was hit by a pitch, then Brodie Medart hit a long single to center field that advanced Steele to third.

Medart stole second on a 2-2 count to Skyler Pond, who struck out swinging for two outs with runners on second and third.

Austin Martinez took the first pitch for a two RBI single, but was caught stealing second to end the inning with the Bobcats up, 3-0.

The Bulldogs started the third inning with Talon Ausbern grounding into a 3-1 from first baseman Steele to pitcher Price.

An error from Burris at third put Dom Varela on second, then stole third on a 3-0 count to Brogan Stone. Price hit Stone on ball four to put a runner on first and third with only one out.

An error by Aiden Martinez brought Jordan Martinez to first, Stone to second and Varela home, cutting the Bobcat lead to 3-1 with one out.

Dante Garcia came up with runners on first and second and one out. He singled to Aiden Martinez who got Jordan Martinez at second.

Stone went to third to put runners on first and third with two outs and brought Sam Kessler to the plate.

He didn’t get much of a chance though as Garcia was picked off at first to end the inning.

The Bobcats took full advantage of Tahoka mistakes in the bottom of the third inning.

Burris reached on an error at shortstop, then advanced to second on the error. Barrett reached on an error at first base while Burris scored.

Aiden Martinez hit into a fielders’ choice, but brought Barrett home for a 5-1 Bobcat lead with one out.

Clausen was hit by a pitch, but caught stealing second and Price grounded out to third base to end the inning.

Both teams left runners stranded in scoring position in the fourth. Tahoka left a runner on second in the fifth. Neither team could get anything going in the sixth.

The seventh opened with Varela singling to right field. Then Stone singled to center and Martinez walked, loading the bases with no outs.

At that point, Price had reached the 110 pitch count and was relieved by Clausen, who walked the next two batters.

That prompted coach Luke Vetter to put Barrett on the mound.

Barrett took Brayden Gutierrez out with three pitches, all strikes. Cayden Gutierrez grounded out, but that brought Martinez across the plate to cut the lead to 5-4 with two outs and the bases loaded.

The Bobcats walked McKlesky to bring up Ausburn, who Barrett struck out swinging to end the game with a 5-4 Bobcat win.

Burris had two runs. Barrett had a run and a hit. Aiden Martinez had an RBI. Steele had a run. Medart had a run and two hits.

The Bobcats face Ropes on Saturday at 11 a.m.