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Kody Barclay (8) weighs his options on the basepaths during Game 1 of the Wildcats' Bi-District playoff series against Lindale Wednesday. Barclay batted 2/3 and scored a run in the Wildcats' 5-4 loss. Photo by DJ Spencer
SS falls behind 0-1 in series
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats suffered a heartbreaking loss in Game One of their Bi-District playoff series against the Lindale Eagles Wednesday night, falling 5-4. Despite leading the majority of the game, the Wildcats couldn’t close the game out, as the Eagles scored five unanswered runs to take the lead in the series.
The Eagles stepped up to the plate first, where they faced Alex Whittle on the mound. The game would start off with a ground out.
Soon after, the Eagles gained a pair of runners on a single and a walk. Another out occurred when Whittle picked off a runner at second base. Following another walk, a pop out ended the Eagles’ turn.
The Wildcats came to the plate next. Their turn began with Kaden Mitchell grounding out. After Whittle hit a single, two more outs followed when Corbin Argenbright struck out and Alex Macias grounding out, bringing the first inning to an end.
The second inning started with consecutive ground outs. After a single, a pop out ended the Eagles’ turn.
The bottom of the second inning kicked off with Dobson Martin striking out and Maddux Cameron grounding out. Though two runners would be gained after both Kody Barclay and Lane Fouse walked, the inning ended when Ty Holt grounded out, ending the second inning, with the scoreless tie persisting.
The third inning began with a single. From there, a pop out, a line out, and a strikeout brought the Eagles’ turn to a close.
The bottom of third inning bean with Mitchell reaching base on an error, and Whittle hitting a single. After that, Argenbright hit a sacrifice bunt to move Mitchell and Whittle to third and second bases, respectively.
Macias then reached base on an error, and both Mitchell and Whittle scored, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Back-to-back outs followed when Martin lined out, and Cameron struck out, closing out the third inning.
The Eagles were retired in order to start the fourth inning, following consecutive strikeouts and a line out.
The bottom of the fourth inning began with Barclay hitting a double and Fouse reaching base on a dropped third strike. Holt would then hit a sacrifice bunt, bringing Barclay home and extending the Wildcats’ lead to 3-0.
Another runner was gained when Mitchell walked. This was followed by Whittle striking out. Though another runner was gained when Argenbright hit a single, the inning ended when Macis struck out, with the Wildcats leading 3-0.
The Eagles once again went down in order to start the fifth inning following a pair of pop outs and a strikeout.
The bottom of the fifth inning began with Martin striking out. Two runners were then gained when Cameron hit a single and Barclay hit a double. Soon after, Cameron scored on a wild pitch, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 4-0.
After two more runners were gained when both Fouse and Holt walked, the inning ended after Mitchell struck out and Whittle grounded out.
The sixth inning started with a single. This was followed by a pop out and a walk. After that, Whittle was relieved by Macias on the mound.
Following another walk, the Eagles scored on a wild pitch, trimming the score to 4-1. A strikeout and a pop out followed, ending the Eagles’ turn.
The bottom of the sixth inning kicked off with Argenbright grounding out and Macias striking out. After a runner was gained when Josh Perkins was hit by a pitch, the inning ended when Cameron struck out, with the Wildcats holding a 4-1 lead.
The seventh inning began with a strikeout. Two runners were then gained on a pair of walks.
After a fly out, the Eagles scored two runs on an error when Martin failed to catch the final out, trimming the score to 4-3. Following another walk, a 2-RBI single would give the Eagles a 5-4 lead.
The next batter was hit by a pitch. Then, the Eagles’ turn ended after a pop out.
The Wildcats were retired in order during the bottom of the seventh inning after Barclay, Fouse, and Holt all struck out, as the Eagles capped off a 5-4 comeback win, handing the Wildcats a bitter loss.
As a team, the Wildcats 5 for 26 (.192) from the plate. Barclay and Whittle led with two hits each, while Cameron added one. Barclay, Cameron, Mitchell, and Whittle all scored one run each.
Whittle started the game on the mound. Across 5 1/3 innings, he recorded four strikeouts, allowing just four hits, three walks, and one earned run. Macias suffered the loss in his 1 2/3 relief innings, allowing four runs, four walks, and one hit, tallying two strikeouts.
With the loss, the Wildcats fell behind 0-1 in the series and dropped to 6-23 on the season. They resumed action Friday, with Game Two of the series in Lindale. At the time of press, no score has been reported for that game.