Wildcats lead early but fall at 7th-ranked Cedartown

The Woodland baseball team took an early 3-0 lead at Class 4A, 7th-ranked Cedartown Monday night, but a four-run bottom of the third by the home-standing Bulldogs led to a 5-3 defeat of the Wildcats in non-region action.

For Woodland, it was the first loss of the season after starting 3-0.

Noah Ludy led off the top of the second inning with a solo home run to center field for the Wildcats’ first run.

After Jacob Frye doubled to lead off the Woodland third inning, T Harrison was hit by a pitch and C Williams loaded the bases with a ground ball single.

A sacrifice fly to left field by Ludy scored Frye and gave Ludy his second RBI of the night. B Kellet, who was inserted as a courtesy runner for Harrison, scored Woodland’s third run on a double steal play that resulted in an out at second base to end the inning.

Trailing 3-0, Cedartown answered in the bottom of the third to score four runs on a pair of doubles, two Wildcat errors, a hit batsman, and a ground out RBI. The Bulldogs later added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of walks, a double, and another error.

The Wildcats out hit Cedartown 8 to 6, but the miscues and walks were costly.

Walker Barrow and Jack Haney led Cedartown with two hits each and combined for three doubles.

Dalton Bowman (5 IP, 3ER, 7H, 1BB, 5K) collected the pitching win for the Bulldogs. Miles Minge (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K), who also doubled in the contest, was credited with a save.

Ludy finished 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs for Woodland. Frye was 2-for-3 with a double, walk, and run scored. Dylan Webb, Koby Stansel, Cauy Williams, and Hunter Reaid (double) all added hits as the Wildcats out hit Cedartown eight to six.

Frye and Brycen Kellet each swiped a base.

Harrison (4 IP, 4R, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 4K) was tagged with the pitching loss. Williams (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 3K) worked the final two frames on the mound for Woodland.

Cedartown improved to 3-0 with the victory.

Woodland (3-1) hosts Armuchee Tuesday at 5pm and Coosa Friday at 5pm.