Gamecocks eliminated in heartbreaker

The New Brockton Gamecocks entered the 3A Area4 playoffs as the runner up and faced Thomasville on Friday, April 22, in the best-of-three series. The Gamecocks won 6-2 and took a one game lead in the series before Thomasville claimed game two 11-0 then defeated New Brockton 13-9 in the third game after an error allowed the Tigers to take the lead for good.

In game one, New Brockton blew the game open scoring five runs in the top of the fourth. A single by Riley Simmons and back-to-back doubles by Drew Cashin and Payton Green with two outs gave the Gamecocks a commanding lead.

Cashin pitched a complete game giving up two runs on six hits with 12 strikeouts.

Green went 3-for-4 with two doubles and 1 RBI. Simmons went 2-for-2 with a double scoring one run and 2 RBIs. Cashin went 1-for-4 with a double scoring 2 RBIs.

New Brockton had six hits and one error in the game while Thomasville had six hits and two errors.

Thomasville 11, New Brockton 0

In game two, New Brockton never could find their bats and the Tigers won 11-0 tying up the series 1-1.

Green started off on the mound for the Gamecocks pitching five innings and giving up five runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Hunter White, Josh Gutierrez, Hunter Bedsole, Cashin and Alex Graham all came out in relief in that order to try and close the game. The five pitchers combined giving up four hits and six runs with no strikeouts.

Kaden Cupp led the Gamecocks at the plate going 2-for-3. Cashin and Dawson Peacock each went 1-for-3 and Simmons went 1-for-2.

New Brockton had five hits and four errors in the game while Thomasville had 10 hits and one error.

Thomasville 13, New Brockton 9

New Brockton lost a heartbreaker in game three when the Gamecocks finished the top of the fifth inning tied 5-5 with Thomasville before an error let the Tigers score two runs and take the lead. Thomasville scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth but the Gamecocks weren’t through, scoring four runs of their own in the top of the seventh. The bases were loaded and New Brockton could have tied it up with a grand slam but it just wasn’t to be.

Cupp started the Gamecocks on the rubber pitching four innings and giving up nine runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Simmons came on in relief and pitched two-thirds of an inning giving up four runs on one hit with one strikeout. Bedsole then Jaxon Whitworth closed out the game giving up only one hit.

Whitworth led the Gamecocks at the plate going 3-for-4 scoring two runs. Green went 2-for-4 scoring one run and 1 RBI while Colton McClenny went one-for-three with a home run in the top of the fourth scoring one run and 3 RBIs.

New Brockton had 10 hits and three errors in the game while Thomasville had eight hits and five errors.

The Gamecocks finished the season with a 14-13 record.