West Holmes hands Cambridge early exit with first round D-II sectional setback

CAMBRIDGE − Visiting No. 10 seed West Holmes and No. 7 seed Cambridge battled to a 2-2 draw after eight innings of action Tuesday in a first round Division II sectional matchup at Don Coss Stadium.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, things went off the tracks defensively in the top of the ninth inning and opened the door for West Holmes.

That Bobcats' defensive lapse allowed the Knights to post a five-run rally to take the 7-2 victory and effectively end Cambridge's quest for a third straight regional appearance.

"We had two opportunities in the seventh and eighth before we got to that ninth inning, and we were unable to put the ball in play," CHS head coach Jamaal Lowery said. "We got a baserunner each inning and could not get them across the plate."

Bobcats' miscues aide Knights big 9th inning rally

Deadlocked at 2-2 entering the ninth, West Holmes got a break to start the frame with lead-off hitter Colton Tenney reaching base when his ground ball was booted for an error.

Ben Tanner followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Tenney into scoring position to take the lead, but Tanner's bunt was misplayed by the Bobcats' defense allowing both runners to reach safely.

Brock Gallion then banged out his third hit of the night to plate Tenney for a 3-2 West Holmes lead with still no outs.

West Holmes then put down another sacrifice bunt, and again the Bobcats failed to execute the play defensively to again not record an out on the play.

West Holmes would than take advantage of the breaks and bang out a double, two singles to tack on another four runs to take a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

"We didn't make a few plays defensively, and that opened the door for them," Lowery said. "Again, that's the game of baseball. In a close game like tonight, when you make mistakes, it gives the other team an opportunity to capitalize, and that's what they did tonight."

Cambridge bats silent in extra inning setback

Cambridge struggled all night to mount any offense against West Holmes starter Carson Tanner, who held the Bobcats to just two runs on three hits through six innings of work.

Morgan Smith came on in the seventh and would pick up the pitching victory, not allowing a hit to the Bobcats in three scoreless innings of solid relief work for the Knights.

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"That was a problem all night, we struggled to just put the ball in play. They threw two pretty good arms at us tonight," Lowery said. "But still, we were right where we wanted to be and just could not get it done. But that's how the game of baseball is some times."

Cambridge's limited offensive attack came from sophomores Dawson Geese and Mason Gregg who each collected RBI singles, while senior Coen Stoner added a base hit.

Geese gives gutsy performance on mound for Bobcats

Cambridge sophomore Dawson Geese drew the starting assignment on the mound and responded with a strong eight inning effort. Geese allowed eight hits with two runs, with just one earned and finished with 14 strikeouts.

"Dawson gave us everything he had tonight," Lowery said. "We talk to our pitchers about emptying the tank, and Dawson definitely did that tonight to give us the opportunity to win. When you pitch like that you should get a 'W' in the win column."

Mason Gregg took over in the ninth inning and absorbed the loss, allowing five runs on five hits with a walk.

With the tough loss, Cambridge ends its season with a 13-6 record and seniors Regan Rogers, Keaton Kyser, Stoner and Bradyn Gregg concluded their Bobcats baseball careers.

"You talk about four great seniors, Keaton, Coen, Regan and Bradyn were that for us," Lowery said. "They laid down a heck of a foundation for our program over their four years. I really appreciate all their efforts and hard work and wish them nothing but the best in the future."

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This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: West Holmes hands Cambridge early exit with first round D-II sectional setback