Bobcats win area championship

By Bart Moss for the FCT

The Phil Campbell Bobcats had two blowout wins in their final area games of the season, routing the Sulligent Blue Devils 19-0 and 18-0. The wins secured the Bobcats’ position as area champions and hosts of first round playoff games beginning this week. The Bobcats also picked up an 8-6 win over the Hamilton Aggies.

Phil Campbell 19, Sulligent 0

Thirteen different players got hits as the Phil Campbell Bobcats scored 19 runs in a shutout of the Sulligent Blue Devils. Phil Campbell scored nine runs in the first inning, putting the game away. The Bobcats went on to score two runs in the second inning, two in the fourth and six in the fifth.

Gage Roberson had three RBIs in the game. Hayden Copeland and Nick Taylor had two RBIs each. Mike Wrona scored three runs in the game. Copeland, Taylor, Daniel Smith, Peyton Thomas and Brodie Nix scored two runs each. Taylor, Copeland, Thomas and Nick Swinney all had doubles, and Joe Hardy stretched out a triple.

Three pitchers combined for the two-hit shutout: Thomas, Ridge Raper and Chase Hutchens.

Phil Campbell 18, Sulligent 0

Phil Campbell faced no more opposition from the Sulligent Blue Devils in game two than they did in game one, as the Bobcats went on to another area route, winning 18-0.

Copeland and Thomas led the way for the Bobcats at the top of the lineup. Copeland reached base four times including a triple, had five RBIs and scored two runs. Thomas reached base five times with three RBIs and three runs scored, including a two-run homer. Nix had two triples, four RBIs and scored three times. Roberson, Wrona and Taylor all scored two runs each for the Bobcats. Taylor and Swinney had doubles. Copeland and Chase Hutchens combined for the three-hit shutout.

Phil Campbell 8, Hamilton 6

The Phil Campbell Bobcats beat the Hamilton Aggies in a wild matchup last week. Both teams started out hot, scoring five runs each in the first inning before settling in. The Bobcats outlasted the Aggies winning 8-6, despite recording five fielding errors. The Bobcats outhit the Aggies 15-10.

Thomas went 4-for-4, including a homerun, had two RBIs and scored two runs. Hardy went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scored two runs. Swinney went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Thomas, Swinney and Taylor all had doubles.

Nate Owens got the win for the Bobcats, pitching six innings and allowing four hits.