Zero panic.
Rhett Nietert had seen a 4-1 lead trimmed to 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning of the opening round of the Class 3A State Tournament in Greenland Thursday afternoon.
His pitch count had reached 101. There was only one out. Walnut Ridge had the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on first.
Then they didn’t.
Nietert fired a bullet to Jace Washburn to pick off the runner at second and, before even considering throwing another pitch, picked off the runner at first to end it.
Nietert allowed nine hits in a complete game and improves to 6-2 on the season, and allowing just two earned runs, he lowers his ERA to 2.16 over 55 innings pitched.
The Bobcats got to Nietert for a run in the bottom of the third with a two out single but Nietert got out of the inning with a ground ball and the Bearcats (17-10) got the run back in their next at bat.
Dylan Todd walked leading off the inning and moved up on a single by Casey Carter, with two down Sadler Miller singled to tie the game with Todd colliding with a catcher (shown) called for obstruction.
Walnut Ridge loaded the bases in the fourth thanks to a two-out error but Nietert got a ground ball to Todd at third to retire the side and when he went back to the mound it would be with the lead.
In the top of the fifth Cutler Haller (2-for-3) singled and pinch runner Tayden Washburn moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Clint Osborne – one of his two and one of the four by the Bearcats.
Nietert reached on a throwing error that allowed Washburn to score for a 2-1 lead.
Both teams left one aboard in the sixth but in the top of the seventh the Bearcats added the insurance runs they would ultimately need.
Haller again started it with a single and Osborne again sacrificed, but this time he also reached on a throwing error. Nietert followed with another sacrifice bunt and there were two in scoring position.
Todd delivered one run with a fly ball to center and RBI leader Jace Washburn singled home the second run for a 4-1 cushion.
Trouble started in the bottom of the inning with a misplayed fly ball and it continued as the next two Bobcats singled and it was 4-2.
A fly ball to Noah Harrel would be the first out but the next hitter singled sharply and the tying run was at second and winning run was at first.
Then they weren’t.
The Bearcats move on to face Perryville, an 8-4 winner over Smackover in the first game of the day. Perryville won the Region 3 tournament.
The Bearcats and Mustangs played in Perryville on April 28 in a game the Bearcats won 2-1 with five pitchers allowing just one hit.
