Pickett County Overcomes 5-Run Deficit For 12-9 Victory at Clarkrange

By Michael Lindsay

 

The Pickett County Bobcats avenged an earlier loss to Clarkrange Friday evening as they overcame a 5-run deficit to defeat the Buffaloes in District 7A baseball action, 12-9.

“This was a big win for us,” said Pickett County head coach Jamie Cravens. “Clarkrange came to our place and played a great baseball game and beat us by 3 runs. I’ve only got 12 boys on my whole roster; they played hard and never gave up. Hats off to Clarkrange; they played a great baseball game. It went back and forth and got a little chippy, but that’s what makes it fun.”

Pickett County tallied 12 hits, led by Jonah Johnson who went 3-5 with 3 runs scored, 3 stolen bases and 2 RBIs. Cole Reeder went 2-3 with 2 doubles, an RBI and a run scored.

Dylan King led Clarkrange as he went 2-5 with 2 RBIs.

Pickett County jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the top half of the second before the Buffaloes posted 5 runs with two outs in the bottom of the frame. Walker Atkinson drew a bases-loaded walk before a Luke Ramsey fly ball scored CJ Pullins, Jack Cordell and Atkinson to give Clarkrange a 6-2 lead.

The Buffaloes tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-2 lead into the fifth inning.

“I told them it’s going to be a 7-inning ball game,” Cravens said. “All we have to do is hold them from this point and get two or three runs an inning. Anything can happen, and they really came a long way. A couple of times I could see the life getting sucked out of us, but we really bore down and did what we had to at the end.”

The Bobcats responded with 4 runs in the top of the fifth to pull within a run at 7-6. Tyler Daniels was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to score Johnson before a Clarkrange error no the next at-bat allowed Brady Evans to reach home. Pickett County drew another bases-loaded walk for their 4th run of the inning.

Clarkrange again pushed their lead out to multiple runs in the bottom of the fifth as Pullins stole home before a passed ball allowed Kaden Mundy to score, giving the Buffaloes a 9-6 lead going into the 6th inning.

Pickett County caught Clarkrange and tied the game in the top of the 6th inning as Dylan Anderson scored on a wild pitch before Johnson stole home and Conner Dillon scored via error to tie the game at 9 entering the 7th inning.

Pickett County retook the lead in the top of the seventh as a Johnson single to right scored Anderson, a Reeder double to left scored Johnson and a Buffalo error allowed Reeder to reach home, giving Pickett County a 12-9 lead entering the bottom of the seventh.

“I tell them all ‘You’re going to get your moment, and you never know when it’s going to come up. When it does, you have to be ready.’ That’s what we’re doing right now,” Cravens said.

Reeder shut the door on a Clarkrange comeback as he forced 3 ground outs in the bottom of the seventh to seal Pickett County’s 12-9 comeback victory.

“He’s not pitched a lot; he’s my catcher,” Cravens said of Reeder. “But we had to bring him in out of necessity. He did a great job and also got a big hit.”

Up next for Pickett County is more district play as they host Clay County on Monday. Clarkrange is scheduled to face Sunbright next Thursday.

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