Cats split opening day games, defeat South Walton

The Enterprise High School baseball team opened the season Saturday, Feb. 19 in the first game on their new field and split the double header in one-run games with a win over Ariton 6-5 and a loss to Smiths Station 8-7. They followed up on Monday with a win against South Walton, Fla.

The Cats opened the day fighting back after falling down by six runs in the fifth inning but the comeback fell short in an 8-7 loss to Smiths. Enterprise scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh but it just wasn’t enough to get the win.

Smiths jumped on top 1-0 in the top of the first but Enterprise tied it up in the bottom of the inning. The Panthers then scored two more runs in the top of the second to go up 3-1 and then added three more in the top of the third for Enterprise to come to bat in the bottom of the inning behind 6-1. Enterprise added another run in the bottom of the third then exploded for five runs in the seventh but Smiths had added a run in the fourth and fifth innings to take the win.

The Cats had five hits on the day with Jack Williams, Owen Burrow, Noah Loy, Tristin Bartling and Mason Chisum all recording a hit. Burrow, Loy, Will Powell, Drew Shiver and Chisum each had an RBI.

Austin Acreman took the loss on the mound for the Cats pitching two and one-third innings, giving up four hits, six runs and recording four strikeouts. Kyle Hakel came on in relief and pitched four and two-thirds innings, giving up four hits and two runs with four strikeouts.

Enterprise 6, Ariton 5

The Cats took victory over the Purple Cats 6-5 with a dramatic walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth by Williams to score the winning run.

Ariton started off the first two innings scoring four runs but Enterprise came roaring back with three runs of its own in the bottom of the third and tied the game back up with another run in the bottom of the fourth. Each team scored a run in the sixth inning and went into extra innings tied at five until Williams singled to win the game.

Williams went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a triple, Burrow went 2-for-3 with two doubles, Shiver went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a double and Brady Richardson went 2-for-4 with a triple and scoring three runs.

Richardson started the game on the mound for the Cats and went four innings giving up three hits and four runs with four strikeouts. Bowen Beckham came out of the bullpen and pitched one and one-third innings giving up two hits and one run. Burrow, Will Powell, Dylan Grantham and Micah Yoo pitched the remaining innings and finished with no hits and no runs for the rest of the game.

Enterprise 8, South Walton 5

Enterprise started the game off with a bang scoring seven runs in the first two innings but South Walton wasn’t done and scored three runs of its own in the fourth and two more in the sixth but it wasn’t enough as the Cats held on for an 8-5 win Monday, Feb. 21.

The offensive onslaught by the Cats was led by Williams and Tysen Cole who both scored in the first inning. In the second inning, the flood gates opened as Enterprise scored five runs after Beckham and Richardson led off with singles and Powell had a double in the inning.

Austin Chappell recorded the win for Enterprise after pitching six innings and giving up five runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Payton Easterling came out of the bullpen to close the game out and recorded one strikeout.

Powell, Richardson and Williams led the Cats at the plate. Powell went 2-for-4 scoring one run and one RBI, Richardson went 2-for-3 scoring one run. Williams went 1-for-3 scoring 2 runs and had 1 RBI. Cole and Loy both went 1-for-4 scoring one run each. Cole had 2 RBIs and Loy had 1. Williams hit a triple while Powell hit two doubles and Loy had one..