Bobcats capitalize on Tigers' miscues

By By Robbie Robertson / The Newton Record
April 18, 2003
NEWTON Sumrall took advantage of five Newton errors as the Bobcats took a 12-5 win in the opening round of the Class 2A south state playoff series
Thursday at Tiger Field.
The series continues today when the Tigers travel to Sumrall for a 7 p.m. contest. The if-necessary game would be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Newton.
Newton falls to 13-12 while Sumrall improves to 13-11.
While the Bobcats outhit the Tigers 14-9, it was the five Newton errors versus none for Sumrall n that made the difference.
Sumrall, the runners-up in Division 7-2A, jumped out quickly in the top of the first.
Jerry Bourne, who pitched a complete game and struck out seven, led off with an infield single. Neil Sumrall followed with a ground-rule double. Bourne then scored on a groundout to second by Ryan Whitfield.
Sumrall later scored on an error to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
Newton answered in the first when shortstop Zack Logan led off with a triple. He scored on a Sam Thames groundout to short to make the score 2-1.
The Tigers tied the game at two in the second when Lucas Poole ripped a single up the middle. Courtesy runner Josh Norman advanced to second on a
wild pitch and scored when Cody Savell singled up the middle.
Sumrall took control of the game in the third inning with five runs when Newton committed two errors. Allen Smith led off the inning with a home run to give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead. Sumrall then got hot at the plate as four of the next five batters reached safely. After Bourne singled and came around on a Whitfield RBI single, Bagget belted a 2-run home run. Another run came across and Sumrall led 7-2.
The Tigers got back into the game in the bottom of the third. Logan led off the inning with a single, and Morgan Craven reached after he was hit by a pitch. Austin Bounds then hit one over the street in left field for a three-run home run to make the score 7-5.
But the rally wouldn't last for long as Sumrall added two unearned runs in the top of the fourth to take a 9-5 lead and the momentum. The Bobcats added
three insurance runs in the top of the seventh for the final margin.
Logan led Newton at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, including a triple. Poole, who also had two hits at the plate, fell to 5-4 on the season with the loss while striking out seven. Savell also had two hits for Newton.
Sumrall had five batters with multiple hits, led by Bourne who had three hits.