The Wildcats’ baseball team staked claim to at least a share of the district championship with a 7-2 win over Greenville Tuesday as the Wildcats had a fond farewell party for Eagle Stadium and honored five seniors on senior night.
The Wildcats and pitcher Ryan Humphries got off to a rocky start allowing the Lions two first inning runs. The Lions had a single, a hit batsman, another single and a wild pitch to plate the two runs. The Wildcats got one run back on a Triston McCormick home run in the bottom of the second to make it 2-1. The Wildcats went ahead with three runs in the third. With one out, Mason Buck doubled and Kaden Argenbright walked. Heston Golightly then hit a long three-run home run to dead center field. The Wildcats led 4-2. The Wildcats increased their led to 5-2 with another run in the fourth. The Wildcats got singles from Kyle Dodd and Gavin Millsap and then Buck drove home a run with a single. The Wildcats went up by five with two fifth inning runs. The Wildcats opened the inning by loading the bases on singles by McCormick and Humphries and a walk to Easton Silman. Michael Arnold drove in one run with a sacrifice fly. Dodd plated the second run with a ground out.
Humphries settled down after the first inning and allowed no more runs through six innings. He got the win pitching six innings allowing six hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out six. Tyler Armstrong pitched a scoreless seventh inning working around a walk and a single. He struck out two.
Buck went 3 for 4 with one run and an RBI. Golightly was 1 for 4 with one run scored and three RBIs. McCormick was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Humphries was 2 for 3 with one run scored. Arnold and Dodd had one RBI apiece. The Wildcats had eleven hits and they had no errors.
The Wildcats are now 10-1 in district play, one game ahead of Hallsvile who squeezed by Texas High 2-1 on the road Tuesday night. The Wildcats and Bobcats will close out district play Friday night with a big game at Hallsville as the Wildcats attempt to claim sole title as district champs. A loss in Hallsville could set up a tie breaking game with Hallsville, perhaps on Saturday, to determine first and second seeding in the district for the playoffs. The Wildcats are now 16-6-1 for the season.
Tuesday night the Wildcats honored five seniors: Mason Buck, Heston Golightly, Kyle Dodd, Michael Arnold and Easton Silman. Eagle Stadium was filled with people who had played games there including two members of the 1948 district champion Wildcats.
