Ninety-Six scores winning run in seventh to eliminate 'Cats

Blacksburg's Chase Norman slides into second base in Thursday night's 5-2 loss in the first round of the playoffs. Blacksburg was eliminated in a loss to Ninety-Six Saturday. The Blacksburg High baseball team won't be taking that next step this season.

After playing for the district championship a year ago, the Wildcats made a quick exit this year, losing 10-9 to Ninety-Six in an elimination game on Saturday.

The Wildcats blew a pair of five runs leads of 7-2 and 9-4. Ninety-Six scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh off Blacksburg ace Dustin Byars.

The Wildcats finish the season at 10-8.

"I'm proud of the kids," Blacksburg coach Toby Elliott said. "They left everything on the field."

The game marked the end of the prep career for Brent Humphries and Byars. Humphries made his final game a memorable one, going 4 for 4, including two doubles in the fourth inning when the Wildcats batted around and scored seven runs.

Ninety-Six roughed up Wildcat starter Chase Norman for two runs in the first inning. The Wildcats answered with a sevenrun explosion in the second.

The Wildcats led 9-4 after both teams scored two runs in the fourth inning. Ninety- Six scored three times in the fifth to pull within a pair of runs.

Norman helped his own cause with two hits. The Wildcats finished with 10 hits.

Norman went five innings before being relieved by Tyler Moss, who pitched the sixth before giving way to Byars in the seventh.