Bobcats roll past Wildcats with shutout victory

On paper, it appeared to be a matchup featuring two of the county’s top teams, but Opp showed out in a 15-0 shutout win at Florala in varsity baseball action on Monday, March 17.

The win pushed the Bobcats to an 11-3 record on the season, while the Wildcats fell to 8-4.

The game began when Riley Day reached on an error and stole second. Grady Patterson then knocked a one-out RBI triple and plated Day with the first run. Baylor Turman followed with a walk and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Nolan Brown knocked in both Patterson and Turman with a two-run single and pushed the lead to three. After Brown advanced to second on a wild pitch, Dawson Peacock had an RBI single. Easton Walsh retired the next two batters, but Opp built an early 4-0 lead.

Patterson issued a one-out walk to Dalton Jackson in the bottom of the first, but that was all Florala could muster. Patterson induced two groundouts and a fly out as the score stayed 4-0 after an inning.

The Bobcats erupted for six runs on four hits and capitalized on several walks in the top of the second. Day started a one-out rally with a walk and took second on a balk. Cash Harrell hit an RBI double before Patterson helped himself again with his second straight RBI triple. A passed ball sent Patterson sent to the plate, and Peacock widened the margin to nine with a two-run double. Following a walk to Porter Nelson, Landon Langley drove home Peacock with an RBI single and took the lead to 10-0. The frame came to an end when Jackson threw out Langley attempting to steal second.

Patterson needed only nine pitches for a 1-2-3 inning in the home half of the second. He struck out Ayden Brooks and Preston Truman as the Wildcats faced a 10-0 deficit after two innings.

The bats cooled off slightly for Opp in the visiting third as Noah Bryan took over on the mound. Day earned a leadoff walk and moved to second off a groundout. Patterson continued to produce in the batter’s box and stroked his third hit in as many innings with an RBI single bringing Day to the plate for an 11-0 lead. Bryan stranded two runners aboard and retired Peacock for the third out.

Patterson brought the heat with back-to-back strikeouts of Greyson West and Rayshon Coleman in the bottom of the third. Walsh broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out double and reached third on a passed ball. Florala was unable to break through when Patterson preserved the shutout with a fly out in foul territory and kept the score 11-0 after three innings.

Bryan began the fourth with a strikeout of Nelson before Langley flew out. The Bobcats then went to work with two outs starting with a single by Will Jackson. Day drove Jackson to the plate with an RBI double. Harrell then launched a no-doubter with a two-run homer for a 14-0 lead. The inning continued when Patterson was hit by a pitch and replaced by courtesy runner Clay Jackson. Turman then reached on a defensive mistake, while Brown brought in Jackson with the final run for the Bobcats in the game.

Bryan drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half as Gage Davis reached on an infield single. The Wildcats were poised to get on the scoreboard, but Turman, who took over in relief, ended the rally attempt with three straight outs.

Patterson was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored to lead Opp. He also was credited with the win throwing three shutout innings and allowing one hit while striking out four. Brown finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Harrell and Peacock were both 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Walsh and Davis paced Florala at the plate with 1-for-2 showings. Walsh suffered the loss after throwing the first 1 1/3 innings in the game and giving up 10 runs (nine earned) on six hits.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, March 20, with area matchups. The Bobcats take on New Brockton at 5 p.m., while the Wildcats host Emmanuel Christian at 6:30 p.m.