Bulldogs in 15-12 slugfest

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

The Geneva Panthers and the Pike County baseball team took a little batting practice at Brundidge Tuesday and when all was said and done, GHS had spoiled what could have been a huge Area win for the Bulldogs.

In a true hitfest, Geneva was able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless in their final three innings and pulled off a 15-12 Class 4A Area 3 win that finished Pike County’s Area schedule with only two wins and four losses.

The Bulldogs mowed down the Panthers in order in the first, but simply couldn’t catch a break on defense from there on out. Besides the first and final inning of the night, GHS batters were hitting away and hitting often.

Geneva plated six runs in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth.

The Panthers were able to cut the lead to one in the fourth on a Pike County error, then, took the lead in the fifth on a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly to left. They added their insurance runs in the sixth on a two-RBI double to right center.

Even with the loss, one thing the Bulldogs didn’t have problems with that they did in the two teams’ earlier meeting, was putting the bat on the ball. In the first meeting in Geneva, PCHS was blanked 3-0 in a game that saw the only three runs scored in the first inning.

This time around Pike County countered the Panther onslaught with three in the first, a huge eight-run second and couldn’t score again until their final run crossed in the fourth on a balk call on the Geneva pitcher.

The Bulldogs took the early 3-0 lead on a double and some generous errors by GHS. They then sent 12 to the plate in the second – surpassing the 11 Geneva sent in their half of the second – and put together seven hits in the first eight at-bats. Three of those were bunts and before they the dust had settled Pike County had an 11-6 lead.

PCHS did have their chances down the stretch. They had the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and men on second and third in the seventh, but couldn’t capitalize either time.

Brian Kilpatrick led the way at the plate with a 3-for-5 showing on the day with two doubles while Michael Lowery had a 3-for-3 day with a double and both had two RBI’s. Joshua Price had a double, Elijah Daniels had a single and Chris Nickson, Jimmy Evans and Robby Price all beat out bunts for singles.

Pike County will now finish out its season with a 3:30 p.m. showing against Calhoun on the road today.

The Bulldogs will now have to pull for a three-way tie at the bottom of the Area between themselves, Dale County and Daleville. With Geneva sweeping the Area, if all other teams split there will be a tie.