Bobcats rally in area opener

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
CHEROKEE - If the Phil Campbell Bobcats weren't completely sold on the idea that defending their Class 2A, Area 16 championship this season would be tough, Monday's game against Cherokee may have been all the convincing they need.
The Bobcats trailed 4-0 before rallying for three runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to earn a 6-4 victory over the Indians in the area opener for both teams.
Phil Campbell coach Michael Beck, who guided his team to the state finals last year, said the Bobcats (10-3, 1-0) are still adjusting to playing with a bullseye on their backs.
"I think that's part of it," he said. "But there's more to it than that. Right now, we're playing a little bit lazy and a little bit nonchalant. We weren't very enthusiastic today. If we don't start playing with more enthusiasm, it could be a long year."
Phil Campbell failed to capitalize on several opportunities in the first three innings, stranding four runners in scoring position and getting another thrown out at third.
"We got a lot of runners on base, but we did a poor job of hitting them in," Beck said.
Cherokee broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third with four runs off Bobcat starter Jonathan Dill, including a three-run homer by Matt Fountain.
Beck said that the windy conditions early in the game may have affected Dill's location, causing him to leave some pitches up and out over the plate.
"I think the wind might have had something to do with that," Beck said. "Dill had a little trouble getting his curveball over today, and it's hard for him to be effective when his curve's not working. He hung in there and pitched his guts out, though."
After giving up two doubles and a homer in the third inning, Dill held the Indians hitless over the next three frames as the Bobcats mounted their comeback.
Tate Canida was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the fourth, and Adam Mitchell reached on an infield hit. Both runners scored on a two-out double by Griffin Harris, a line drive that bounced past the diving attempt of Cherokee centerfielder Matt Stanfield.
"It looked like Griffin got it off the end of the bat," Beck said. "If he had hit it solid, it would have carried a little further and the guy probably makes the catch."
Harris eventually scored on a wild pitch, trimming the lead to 4-3.
The Bobcats took the lead for good with three runs off Cherokee starter Austin Phillips in the fifth.
Kevin Lacey was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Steven Lacey then beat out a bunt single for one of his three hits on the day. After Caleb Thompson singled to load the bases, two runs scored on a pair of wild pitches to give Phil Campbell a 5-4 lead.
Pinch-runner Nathan Rackard later scored on a throwing error to make it 6-4.
Dill held Cherokee in check over the next two innings before giving way to Steven Lacey, who earned the save by striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
"This was a big win for us, starting off 1-0 in the area," Beck said. "We're playing Cherokee first and Colbert Heights second, so we knew it wasn't going to be easy.
"This is a tough place to play. [Cherokee] was beating us 7-2 up here last year in the fourth inning before we came back to win 9-7. Coach [Richard] Phillips has a good baseball team, and I thought his son pitched a good game today. He kept us off-balance."
Phillips struck out seven and walked one in 6 2/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and hitting four batters.
Dill earned the win, allowing four runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked three.
The Bobcats finished with 12 hits, including three each by Dill and Lacey, but they left 11 men on base.
Harris was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, and Randy Cochran was also 2-for-4. Thompson and Mitchell each added one hit.
Phil Campbell was scheduled to conclude its area series with Cherokee at home on Tuesday.