By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

LITTLE CYPRESS — A five-run fifth inning rally by the Little Cypress-Mauriceville enabled the Bears to take down the Bridge City Cardinals 5-4 in a highly competitive District 22-4A game at Gibbens Field Thursday afternoon.

Slade Green started the game for LC-M (21-4, 3-1) going five innings with two strikeouts and three walks and later drove in what was the game-winning run. Truman Franklin came in relief in the sixth to close the game, with two innings, one strikeout and one walk.

Bridge City’s Caleb Dubois got the start, going four and a third innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Gavin Green would come in to finish the game and had two strikeouts.

LCM did what they couldn’t last time against Bridge City, hit runners in and take advantage of baserunners after the Bears fell to the Cardinals (14-8, 3-1) 5-0 in Bridge City Tuesday. This time around they were swinging a lot more in those scenarios and it paid off.

Bridge City took the first run of the game thanks to a fielding error. Caleb Dubois led the game off with a single and stole second base. Justyn Romero would drive him in after reaching base thanks to a Bears’ error on a routine pop-up as the Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead. The Bears threatened in the bottom of the first, but Dubois pitches his way out of the jam.

In the top of the fifth, the Cardinals get the bases loaded and cashed in on the chance. Dubois, Luc Hollier and Logan Hamm all reached base on a hit and two walks, in that order. Romero knocked in Dubois after the Bears make another error on a crucial play to the plate. Hollier would score on a fielder’s choice from Jackson Tims. Hamm scored on a double steal, taking home on a crafty play to help the Cardinals build up a 4-0 cushion after four and a half frames.

The Bears, showing plenty of roar was left in them, finally answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a John Beeson sac fly to right to get it started. Taylor Gilbert would score from third base off the hit, marking the first opportunity given, that the Bears took advantage of.

The Bears continued to rally in the bottom of the fifth, making this a whole new game. Chris Bilbo would score, after hitting a double, on a wild pitch. Jordan Alexander scored on an error from the Cardinals for the third run of the inning.

Franklin has a hard hit to right to drive in another and tie the game up at four all. Slade Green would knock in Michael Lee for the inning’s fifth and final run as the Bears took their first lead at 5-4 after five innings.

The Bears would hang on thanks to reliever Franklin, who was able to record three straight outs.

The Bears handed the Cardinals their first district lose and as competitive as the game was, show that these teams will be involved in a tight tight race until the end of what should be a great race to the finish line in 22-4A play. Both teams trail first-place Orangefield (15-2-1, 4-0) as the Bobcats have had impressive sweeps of series against both Hamshire-Fannett and Silsbee.

LC-M will host Orangefield Tuesday while the Cardinals will visit West Orange-Stark.