The Orangefield Bobcats and Bridge City Cardinals both got out of the gate nicely by taking game one of their best of three Regional Semifinal series. The Bobcats took down the No. 1-ranked Robinson Rockets 7-4, and the Cardinals toped the No. 5-ranked Jasper Bulldogs 10-5. Saturday was a different story, as the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs.

They fell to Jasper 9-2 and 4-2. The Bobcats dropped game two against Robinson 7-0, but came back strong the third game. They took the series 14-2.

Orange County was wishing for an OF/BC regional final, a wish not granted.

However, we are in for a treat when the Bobcats and Jasper Bulldogs face off at Lamar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to see who will represent region 3 in the state tournament. This will be a back yard scrap, and a fun series to watch. Both teams can hit the ball well and have deep pitching depth. Thursday’s game will begin at 7:30, Friday’s at 7:30 and Saturday’s at 6. LET’S GO BOBCATS!!!

‘Cats crash Rockets

In the first game Jace Statum took the hill for the Bobcats. He pitched a complete game, giving up six hits, walking three and striking out nine. Jonathon DeRamus had the first hit for the Cat’s in the first inning, with a double. He was left stranded at the end of the frame.

The Rockets struck for three runs in the bottom of the first with two outs.

Those would be their only runs until the seventh, where they managed to push one more across the plate.

The Bobcats had one hit in each of the next three innings.

All singles by Corey Huckabay, Jace Statum and Josh Watson.

The Bobcats then erupted for four runs in the fifth inning.

Kyle Fontenot started things off with a single, followed by a Derrick Evans single.

Statum laid down a bunt that the catcher threw into right field.

The errant throw turned into a three base error, landing Statum at third while scoring Fontenot and Evans.

Jacob Felts added an RBI single scoring Statum.

Chase Angelle and Quinton Evans followed with two singles.

Evan’s recorded an RBI that scored Parker James who was running for Felts.

The Bobcats picked up three important insurance runs in the seventh inning.

DeRamus and Felts both drew a base on balls.

Angelle then moved them over 90 feet with a fly to right.

DeRamus scored what would turn out to be the winning run on a wild pitch.

Quinton Evans stepped up to the plate with the task of putting the ball in play to get another insurance run.

However, he decided to put the ball out of play by hitting a two run homerun.

The bomb gave Statum all he needed to finish off game one.

In the second game the Bobcats were only able to get five hits off of Robinson pitching. All hits were singles led by Statum who had two singles. Felts, Angelle and Fontenot picked up one single a piece. Felts and Quinton Evans did the pitching for the Cats.

They gave up 11 hits, walked one, hit five batters and struck out seven.

The Bobcats made up for it in game three by sending the No. 1-ranked Rockets home early. Angelle had another complete game on the mound. In his performance he gave up six hits, walked two and struck out six. Angelle also had two hits in the game, a triple and a single. The Bobcats scored in every inning with one in the first, two in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth and they exploded for seven runs in the fifth. The Bobcats scatted 12 hits in the contest led by Quinton Evans, who had his second homerun of the series along with a single. Statum and Huckabay had two singles apiece.

DeRamus, Felts, Josh Watson and Derrick Evans all contributed with singles a piece. To go along with a trip to the Regional Finals, the Bobcats allowed Coach Bennett to collect his 100th career win as a coach.

A good run

In Bridge City’s first game Matt Hicks handled the Bulldogs.

He pitched a complete game while giving up five hits, walking four, and hitting one batter to go along with eleven strike outs.

The Bulldogs struck first with two runs in the first inning, but were held scoreless until the sixth inning.

They added three more in the sixth.

Matt Menard started the third inning in a big way with a massive home run.

His homerun ignited the Cardinals to a six-run inning.

After Menard’s shot, Evan Boren and Cameron Dishon put back to back singles together.

Joe Robertson drew a walk to load the bases, followed by a two RBI double from Hicks scoring Boren and Dishon.

Mitchel Hubbard added an RBI with a ground out to short, scoring Robertson.

Luke Rhodes and Forrest Zoch both added runs scoring singles.

The Cardinals added two runs in the fifth inning.

Zoch had a single, followed by a free pass to Menard.

Boren hit a ground ball to the short stop, that was missed played, allowing Zoch to score. Menard moved 90 feet from home on the mishap. Menard scored the last run of the inning while Boren was in a hot box between first and second.

The Cardinals added two insurance runs in the seventh. Zoch had his third single of the game and advanced to second on a nice throw to the plate tagging Hubbard out who reached on an error. Menard hit a ground ball to short, who over threw the first baseman, allowing Zoch to score and Menard to move to second.

Boren hit in the last run for the Cardinals with a single.

In the second game Bridge City scattered eight hits led by Zoch who was two for two with two singles and had an RBI. Zoch also started the second game on the mound.

He allowed 11 hits, one walk and struck out two.

Colby Carpenter pitched the last 2 2/3 innings giving up three hits, allowing one walk and striking out one.

Rhodes and Hicks picked up two hits in the game.

Rhodes collected a single and a double, and Hicks had two singles.

The other two hits were singles from Hubbard and Boren.

In the third game Hicks took the mound again for 6 1/3 innings.

During his impressive performance on one day’s rest he gave up ten hits, one walk, hit three batters, and struck out three.

Hayden Guidry came in to finish the seventh.

The Cardinals had seven hits in the game, led by Mitchel Hubbard’s two for two game.

He had two singles, one walk and scored one run.

Zach Smith had a double, while Hicks, Zoch, Menard and Boren all had a single apiece.

I would like to congratulate Coach Landry, his staff and team on a nice run in the playoffs. Coach Landry will lose some key seniors I have had the privilege to watch for many years. Although this is a special group of talent, Landry will have his ball club more than prepared to make another run deep into the playoffs next year.