Wildcats defeat Lobos in slugfest

Fans that like plenty of offensive fireworks would have enjoyed last Tuesday's game against Longview, the Cats home opener.

The scoring started early as Longview got two runs off of Wildcat starting pitcher Heath Mayo in the top of the first.

The Wildcats got those runs back in the bottom half of the first as Ryan Bell connected on a tworun homer, and Chase West provided an RBI single to score Mayo, who walked, giving the Cats a 3-2 lead.

Longview took the lead 4-3 in the top of the second, and then Whitehouse tied the game in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by Ryan Miner to score Banks Brandon who had singled earlier in the inning.

The Wildcats took a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the third. Seth Cashion started the inning with a double to right center, and then West picked up another RBI single scoring Mayo who had reached first base on a fielder's choice. Grant Brandon then hit a 2-run homer to left center.

The Lobos chased Mayo from the hill in the top of the fourth on four runs to take the lead back, 8-7. The Cats would again get on the board in their half of the fourth inning.

Three runs crossed the plate as Cody Brown walked and then scored on a passed ball. Miner walked behind Brown, and Cashion singled to left. Both scored on a sacrifice bunt by Evan Beaton that the Lobo pitcher would throw away in an attempt to get Miner at third.

The Wildcats scored two more in the bottom of the fifth to stake a 12-8 lead which stood until the seventh inning.

Pitcher Grant Brandon had been cruising after taking over for Mayo in the fourth inning, but found early troubles in the seventh after back-to-back walks.

A mishandled ball at short for the Wildcats loaded the bases. Longvied earned a tie on a grand slam. Brandon retired the next two batters to head into the bottom of the seventh.

Whitehouse wasted little time scoring the winning run as Brown would led off with a single, and Miner took a 3-2 fastball into the trees behind left field for a walkoff two-run homer to give the Cats a 14-12 victory.

"We continued to hit the ball well tonight and that gave us the chance to win the game," said Coach Danny Robey. "If you looked at the scoreboard you could see that we scored in every inning but the sixth, which shows that we are getting production all through our lineup."