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Cougars hold off Gaffney
The Indians made up a three-run deficit to beat Westside on Saturday but couldn't overcome an early 6-run hole in a 9-6 loss to York in an elimination game on Monday. "We have kids who don't quit," Gaffney coach Tom Owens said. "Our kids did a great job to get into contention for the playoffs. The thing I was impressed with was that anytime we had our backs to the wall, the kids rose to the occasion." The Cougars touched Gaffney starter John Michaels for six runs in the first inning. Cameron Culp took over with two outs in the first and allowed just three hits over his first five innings of work. The Indians fought back to make a game of it, scoring two runs on a throwing error in the second and cutting the deficit to 6-5 on Bubba Wright's 3-run blast in the third inning. Gaffney had a chance to tie the game in the third but had a runner thrown out at third. York's Zac Fuesser gave the Cougars some breathing room with a 3-run shot in the sixth inning. Dylan Jolley added a solo blast for the Indians in the seventh for the game's final margin. Tyler Saboley got the win. He also had a 2-run homer in the Cougars' six-run first inning. After York's leadoff hitter grounded out, the Cougars had three consecutive hits. Josh Vallejos knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly. That was followed by three straight RBI hits before Saboley's homer. Gaffney loses all-region performer Dylan Jolley and Joe Ben Frye to graduation, but returns a solid nucleus. But Owens said the two seniors will be missed. "Dylan probably had as good a season as anybody I've coached," he said. "Joe Ben didn't get a lot of playing time, but he's a great kid and his presence was invaluable to us." Notes ... Gaffney High centerfielder McCrae Norton and shortshop Michael Hughey joined Jolley on the allregion team. |
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