BEARCATS SACRIFICE WAY TO CONFERENCE LEAD

The Booneville Bearcats sacrificed their way into first place in Conference 3A-4 Thursday with an 8-3 win in Charleston.

Dunn Daniel was responsible for two sacrifices, a bunt that moved two runners and a fly ball that scored a run.

Rhett Nietert also squeezed home a run with a sacrifice bunt and Peyton Tatum drove in one with a fly ball to the deepest part of the park.

Brooks Herrera (3-2) threw a gem. He was perfect through three innings, allowed three hits after consecutive errors started the fourth, got out of the inning with an out at the plate (shown) and one of his eight strikeouts. He finished it in 99 pitches with five hits, two walks allowed.

The Bearcats (9-4, 6-0) set the tone for scratching out runs in the first inning.

With two down Dax Goff singled. Goff (2-for-3) moved to second on a wild pitch then stole both third and home on a full count pitch to Tatum that would get away from the Tiger catcher.

Ry Ray was hit by a pitch and replaced at first by Conner Lentz with one down in the second and Matt O’Bar doubled down the right field line to score Lentz. O’Bar(2-for-3) later scored on a wild pitch with Herrera at the plate to make it 3-0.

Daniel moved Goff and Tatum into to second and third in the third but the Bearcats did not capitalize.

In the fourth O’Bar drew a walk and was chased around the bases by Herrera who tripled. Herrera broke for home on a squeeze by Nietert and it was 5-0.

After the Tigers got within 5-3 the Bearcats got a run back in their fifth. Tatum (2-for-2) singled and moved to second when the ball was misplayed. He advanced to third on a ground ball, again by Daniel, and scored on a Jace Washburn single to make it 6-3.

Herrera was hit by a pitch, Nietert singled and Goff was walked to lead off the Bearcat sixth and Tatum lofted a ball to deep center to easily score Goff and move Nietert to third. Daniel lifted another fly that scored Nietert for an 8-3 lead.

Charleston put two aboard in both the sixth and seventh, getting a walk and a hit in each frame, but Herrera induced ground outs to end the sixth and a ground out fielder’s choice and pop fly to close out the Tigers.

The Bearcats are set to play four times next week, at Waldron on Monday, at home against Lavaca on Tuesday, at Alma on Thursday, and at Two Rivers on Friday.

A win at Two Rivers clinches a share of the conference title and the top seed in the district tournament to be held beginning April 24 at Cossatot River.