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Baldwyn storms back, wins Game 2 thriller over Myrtle
TL;DR
Baldwyn overcame a five-run deficit to defeat Myrtle 11-10 in Game 2 of their 2A playoff series. The Bearcats will advance to face East Webster in the next round.
Key points
- Baldwyn won Game 2 against Myrtle 11-10
- The Bearcats erased a five-run deficit
- Baldwyn will face East Webster in the next playoff round
BaldwynMyrtleClass 1A playoffs2A first-round series
BALDWYN – Baldwyn got knocked out of the Class 1A playoffs by Myrtle last season. In a rematch of that series, the Bearcats avenged the loss emphatically.
Baldwyn erased a five-run deficit in the fifth inning, then walked off the Hawks in the 10th to win Game 2 of their 2A first-round series 11-10 on Saturday. The Bearcats (15-13-1) will face East Webster in the second round.
“I'm most proud of their grit and their effort,” Bearcats coach Shannon Smith said. “They could have thrown in the towel down 9-4, and they just fought and clawed their way back in, and it took a whole team effort.”
Myrtle got some big hits early. That combined with Baldwyn mistakes that allowed the Hawks (19-8) to keep tacking on runs early. The Bearcats went into the bottom of the fifth down 9-4.
Baldwyn loaded the bases with no outs to start the frame. Rush Watkins got a run in with a sacrifice fly. Gavin Gamble, Carson Richardson and Carter Craven each drove in a run on a single. That, combined with a balk with a runner on third, allowed the Bearcats to come all the way back and tie the game.
Even when they got down big, Baldwyn’s hitters continued to stay with their approach.
“The whole chatter in the dugout was, ‘Let's just get a few back at a time’, and they took that approach,” Smith said. “They didn't try to get it all at once, and just stayed locked in and tried to get one or two at a time.”
The Bearcats took their first lead of the day on a sac fly by Maddox McCarley in the sixth. Wes Stanton tied it back up in the top of the seventh with an RBI groundout, which ultimately forced extras.
The teams locked into a stalemate for the next few innings until the bottom of the 10th, when Baldwyn loaded the bases with one out. Seventh grader Gavin Copeland came up to bat and worked a full count, then drew ball four and got the winning run home.
“I've just been patient,” Copeland said. “And that ball that I took, it was iffy, but the walk ended up turning out.”
As Baldwyn’s bats got going late, Ridge Mask put on a show out of the bullpen. He pitched the game’s final six innings, allowing one run on four hits while walking six, striking out four and earning the win on 117 pitches.
Extra Bases
Big Inning: A single, a hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth.
Big Stat: Baldwyn committed five errors.
Coach Speak: “We didn't lose many games this year, but when we did, it’s when we didn't throw strikes, and that's what happened today. We had several innings there where we just couldn't find the strike zone, and it cost us.” – Myrtle coach Brandon Montgomery
Q&A
How did Baldwyn win against Myrtle in Game 2?
Baldwyn erased a five-run deficit and won 11-10 in the 10th inning, showcasing a strong team effort.
What was the score of the Baldwyn vs. Myrtle Game 2 playoff match?
The final score was Baldwyn 11, Myrtle 10.
Who will Baldwyn play in the next round of the playoffs?
Baldwyn will face East Webster in the second round of the playoffs.
