Tigers drop two at Mars Hill, end playoff run

by Bart Moss for the FCT

The Red Bay Tigers playoff run came to an end with 2-1 series loss to the Mars Hill Panthers.

The Tigers were able to recover from a game one loss to the Panthers on Friday evening to earn a split later that night and force a decisive game three on Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers struggled defensively in the opening game of the series making four errors leading to six unearned runs helping Mars Hill to an 11-5 game one win.  Red Bay outhit Mars Hill 11-9 in the game but also left 11 runners on base.

After a disastrous bottom of the third inning where the Tigers gave up four runs and made two errors, Jade Pounds, Troy Borden and Kolby Bragwell each had run-scoring singles to close the gap to 6-4.   It was as close as Red Bay would get.

Borden went 2-for-2 with an RBI to lead the Tigers in game one.

Red Bay was able to overcome more defensive woes in game two thanks to Borden’s performance on the mound and some hot batters at the plate.

Trailing by one thanks to three errors, Borden settled in on the mound and pitched five shutout innings.

Red Bay had a big four-run fourth inning to seal the win in game two. Pounds got things started with a triple.  He later scored on an RBI single by Borden.  Following a walk to Bragwell, Nick Thorn cleared the bases with a three-run homer.

Pounds went 2-for-3 in the game two for Red Bay.

Mars Hill score nine runs in the second inning to put the Tigers away in the decisive game three on Saturday 10-2.  The Tigers got an RBI single from Chandler Allen and an RBI double from Borden in the third inning to score their two runs.

“We are certainly disappointed in losing,” said Red Bay coach Richard Maggerise.  “Being a very young team, this was a great experience and I believe we are headed in the right direction.”