Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Before Blake Smith stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday, Green coach Dave Shoupe had a simple message for his leadoff hitter.
“I told Blake when he got up to bat, ‘This is your moment. Go get it. That’s exactly what he did.”
With teammate Riddick Jenkins standing on second base, and the score tied at 4-4, Smith took a 2-0, two-out pitch and gave it a ride into the left-center field gap. Riddick rushed to the plate and the Bobcats knocked off Whiteoak, claiming the program’s first district title since 2005.
The Cardiac ‘Cats live to see another day.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Of Green’s 18 wins this season, six have been cemented in extra innings — four of which were one-run games. Needless to say, even when trailing late in the game, there was no panic.
“This is great. We’ve fought and fought all year in games like this and it’s nice to continue to do that,” Shoupe said. “We haven’t folded under the pressure. It’s easy to give in but these guys have a lot of grit about them. I told them at the beginning of the year that they’re special. They showed it today. I’m just proud of their effort and what they overcame.”
The win allows the Bobcats (18-5) to claim their first district championship since 2005 — and it wouldn’t have happened without a stout pitching performance from Landon Kimbler.
Whiteoak (13-10) knocked Kimbler around a bit, pounding out eight hits. But the senior was able to navigate out of trouble on multiple occasions. He went seven innings, surrendering three earned runs striking out seven.
Most importantly, even after allowing Whiteoak to take a brief lead in the seventh, he quelled any further damage to give his teammates an opportunity to rally.
“Landon did a great job today and he’s been one of our guys,” Shoupe said. “He’s a four-year starter and throwing Jon [Knapp] yesterday, we knew we’d have Landon there today. He was our dawg. He got it done and that’s all we can ask for.”
PHOTOS: Images from Green’s district championship win over Whiteoak
The scoring started in the bottom of the second inning when Conner Blanton singled in Mason Neal, giving Green a 1-0 lead. Whiteoak, however, answered in the third when Xander Roades knocked in Abraham Flader with a sacrifice fly.
The Bobcats went back ahead in the third, thanks to an RBI single from Jon Knapp, and extended the lead to 3-1 when Knapp knocked in another with an RBI groundout in the fourth.
In the sixth, the Wildcats cut the deficit to 3-2 when Jacen Applegate logged an RBI single to score Roades. Then, with their season on lift support in the seventh, they rallied to score twice — a two-run double from Jonah Michael — to take a 4-3 lead, and put Green on the ropes.
But as they have all season long, the Bobcats provided a counter-punch and Knapp was the deliverer once again.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the junior sent a ball into the outfield green to score a racing Gabe Blevins from second, making it 4-4 and sending the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, Green’s Kase McIntyre stepped onto the mound in relief of Kimbler, and needed 11 pitches to hang a zero. That set the stage for Smith and company in the bottom half.
Jenkins began the frame with a single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Blanton. Smith then stepped into the batter’s box with two outs and delivered the goods.
“The way we do things is pitch to contact, put a good path on the ball, try to barrel balls up and try to stay in the game mentally,” Shoupe said. “We call it the goldfish. If we make a mistake, we forget about it and move on. That’s how we’ve been all year and we’re going to continue to do the same thing.”
Statistically, Knapp led the Bobcats’ offense with a 3-for-4 effort that included three RBIs. Smith was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, and Blevins was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Roades led the Wildcats’ offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run while Applegate went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Christian Hite also chipped in, picking up two base hits.
While the Wildcats reach the end of the line, Green will head to a Division VII regional semifinal at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Ohio University. The Bobcats will match up with Newark Catholic, who beat Danville by an 8-1 final to advance.
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