By Michael Lindsay
The Monterey Wildcats erased a 2-run deficit in the top of the seventh inning Friday evening as they held on to defeat Pickett County, 7-6.
“We finally made enough outs to get out of it,” said Monterey head coach John Looper. “We trailed late in the game but had some fortunate things happen. We got a good enough game to hang on and win.”
Monterey scored 5 runs in the top of the seventh while holding off a comeback attempt in the bottom of the frame by the Bobcats. Lawson Cantrell led the Wildcats at the plate as he went 2-4 with 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases.
Shortstop Eli Reagan led Pickett County offensively as he went 2-4 with an RBI.
Monterey struck first in the top of the second inning as a wild pitch scored Cantrell. The Bobcats answered in the bottom-half of the frame as Jonah Johnson and Jaden Daniels each stole home to give Pickett County a 2-1 lead after two.
Monterey tied the game in the top of the fourth inning as a Jacob Smith single to center scored Cantrell to knot the game at two runs each.
Pickett County answered in the bottom of the second as back-to-back two-out hits by Gavin Daniels and Reagan scored a run each to give the Bobcats a 4-2 lead entering the seventh inning.
After a strikeout and ground-out to open the top of the seventh, Monterey’s Leandro Roberts drew a two-out walk followed by back-t0-back singles by Jake Rachford and Dawson Hedgecough to load the bases with two outs.
Evan Robinson was hit by pitch in the ensuing at-bat to bring the Wildcats within one run at 4-3. Monterey tied the game on the next at-bat as Dylan Whithead drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 4 runs each.
Cantrell followed with a bases-clearing single three pitches later to give Monterey a 7-4 advantage entering the bottom of the seventh inning.
“I told them if we don’t get two runs, we’re beat,” said Looper. “We got two quick outs, but got a walk and a hit and got some positive energy going for the first time all night.”
Pickett County didn’t go away quietly as the Bobcats loaded the bases with no outs and the winning run at the plate. Following a strikeout, Daniels delivered a 2-run single to center to bring the Bobcats within one run at 7-6.
Hedgecough held off Pickett County from there as he forced a ground-out and a strikeout to end the contest with a 7-6 victory by the Wildcats.
Up next for Monterey is a trip to Cumberland County on Monday.
