In a scene fit for a movie at 5:55 yesterday, the fifth day of the fifth month and the 125th day, or 5 to the third power, in the bottom of the 5th inning the score was 5-5. Jace Washburn, who wears number 5 for the Bearcats was on the mound and pitching to De Queen’s number 5.
In the end it was Washburn who was on deck with the Bearcats (14-9) trailing the Leopards 9-8 when the final out of the game, played at the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain in Mena was recorded.
The Bearcats opened a 5-0 lead in the second inning when De Queen committed six errors, including three involving Hayden Daniel, who reached on one, moved up two bases on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on another throw across the diamond that got away.
Clint Osborne tripled over the Leopard right fielder for two runs, Rhett Nietert reached on a sacrifice on which an accompanying error allowed a run to score and Washburn grounded out to drive in the fifth run of the inning.
De Queen chipped away with two in the third and another in the fourth then took the lead in that fifth inning on a wild pitch during one of eight walks the Bearcats issued.
But with two down in the bottom of the fifth Sadler Miler singled to right, Parker Smith (shown, 2-for-3) smashed one of his two doubles and Cutler Haller doubled both home.
The Bearcats led 7-6 but left two runners aboard in the inning then left them full in the sixth after cutting a 9-7 deficit to one of 9-8 when Miller reached on an error that scored Washburn, who had hit into a force play that erased Dylan Todd (2-for-5).
Smith took the mound for just the second time this season and threw a perfect seventh to keep it 9-8 but the Bearcats could not rally again in the bottom of the seventh.
At 12:30 on Thursday the Bearcats, the 2-seed out of District 3A-4, are scheduled to face Elkins in the opening round of the Class 3A Region 1 Tournament in Lincoln.
The Bearcats faced Elkins, the regular season champion but third seeded team from District 3A-1, at Arvest Park in Springdale on April 17, defeating the Elks 8-4. The winner of Thursday’s game advances to the regional semifinals and earns a spot in the Class 3A state tournament in Greenland set for next week.
