Bobcats take on road games

By Bart Moss / For the FCT

Phil Campbell had an eight-game Spring Break road trip that was highlighted with a four-hit shutout of Baldwin County by freshman Ridge Raper.

Raper went the distance, pitching seven shutout innings and striking out four batters in the Bobcats’ 3-1 win at the beach last week.

Raper also helped his own cause at the plate with a hit and an RBI.

The Bobcats got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning when Peyton Thomas scored on an infield error. They picked up their other two runs in the top of the fifth inning: Mike Wrona scored on single by Cole Motes, who later scored on a single by Raper.

Phil Campbell 3, Locust Fork 2

The Phil Campbell Bobcats won a pitching battle last week, defeating Locust Fork 3-2.

Both teams went scoreless through three innings. The Bobcats scored first in the top of the fourth inning when Thomas tripled, scoring Raper to put the Bobcats on top 1-0.

Locust Fork tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but the Bobcats reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly scoring Brandon Baker.

Phil Campbell extended the lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning when Nate Owens scored on a fielder’s choice.

Thomas got the win for the Bobcats, going seven innings, giving up three hits and two runs and striking out six batters.

Phil Campbell 6, Marion County 2

Phil Campbell scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to beat Marion County 6-2 in a come-from-behind win.

Phil Campbell took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Raper scored on an error by the Red Raider shortstop.

Marion County took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning.

Phil Campbell opened the big fifth inning with an RBI-single by Joe Hardy, scoring Raper to tie the game. The Bobcats took the lead on a two-RBI double by Owens, scoring Peyton Thomas and Cole Motes. Owens came around to score on single by Austen Baker. Rilan Garrison added a run, scoring on an error by the Marion County left fielder.

Owens, Baker and Thomas had big games for the Bobcats at the plate. Owens went two-for-four with two RBIs and scored a run. Baker went three-for-four with an RBI. Thomas went two-for-three with a walk and run scored.

Owens and Hardy combined to strike out ten batters. Hardy struck out seven of the 11 batters he faced in the game.

Phil Campbell 8, Clay-Chalkville 7

The Phil Campbell Bobcats overcame a six-run deficit to come from behind and defeat Clay-Chalkville 8-7 last week.

Scoreless through three and a half innings, Clay-Chalkville scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Phil Campbell got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Austen Baker doubled in Brett Saint and Brandon Thomas to cut Clay-Chalkville’s lead to 6-2.

The Bobcats tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. The scoring began when Peyton Thomas scored on an error by the third baseman. Hardy doubled in Owens and Chase Hutchens. Hardy came around to score on a single by Brody Nix to tie the game 6-6.

Owens broke the tie in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run shot to left field, scoring Thomas and giving the Bobcats an 8-6 lead.

Owens went two-for-four with two RBIs and scored two runs.

Hardy pitched six innings, giving up six runs on seven hits and striking out four batters.

Sumiton Christian 4, Phil Campbell 1

Hutchens went two-for-three with a double and scored a run for the Bobcats in a 3-1 loss to Sumiton Christian last week.

The Bobcats’ lone run came in the top of the seventh inning, trailing 4-0.

Saint also had a double for the Bobcats.

Oneonta 7, Phil Campbell 0

The Phil Campbell Bobcats struggled to put runs on the board, losing to Oneonta 7-0.

The Bobcats generated five hits, two of which came from Hardy. One was a double.

Hutchens also doubled.

Owens surrendered 12 hits and five earned runs from the mound. He struck out four.

Athens Bible 14, Phil Campbell 5

With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Athens Bible scored nine runs to run away from the Phil Campbell Bobcats 14-5.

Austen Baker went 3-for-3 and scored a run to lead the Bobcats.

Peyton Thomas and Hardy had two RBIs each.

Athens Bible 7, Phil Campbell 0

Nothing came easy for the Phil Campbell Bobcats in a 7-0 loss to Athens Bible.

The Bobcats managed six hits but couldn’t get any runners across home plate.

Raper took the loss, surrendering seven runs on eight hits.