Bobcats advance in postseason

The Phil Campbell Bobcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A baseball state playoffs with a sweep of Geraldine Friday. The Bobcats will be on the road for the second straight week, traveling to Fyffe.

Phil Campbell got some early hits but was unable to get any runs across the plate. Geraldine broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead.

The Bobcats responded in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Austen Baker scoring Luke Barnwell.

Geraldine reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, going up 2-1.

Barnwell got things started for Phil Campbell in the top of the seventh inning with a lead–off triple. Mason Swinney followed with a walk.

Baker hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Barnwell and tying the game 2-2. Swinney stole second base and advanced to third base on a single by Bryant Hyde and came in to score the go-ahead run on an error by the Geraldine catcher.

Swinney pitched a gem for the Bobcats, going the distance, allowing two hits, two runs and striking out 10 batters.

Barnwell had three hits and scored two runs. Baker had two RBIs. Hyde also had a two-hit game.

Game two wasn’t nearly as eventful. Phil Campbell broke a scoreless tie in the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead.  The Bobcats broke the game open with a nine-run fourth inning and added another run in the sixth.

Barnwell pitched the complete game shutout, allowing two hits and striking out five.