Wildcats outlast Patriots to win region opener

Peyton Posey at the plate for Woodland just prior to his game-winning triple to right field as the Wildcats topped Paulding County in nine innings.

It took nine innings Wednesday night, but the Woodland Wildcats started their 2020 Region 7-AAAAA campaign on the right foot with a 2-0 win over Paulding County at LakePoint. Starting pitchers Scotty Smith (6 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 12K) of Woodland and Tanner Bastings (5.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 3BB, 9K) of Paulding battled scoreless into the sixth inning. Robbie Reeves (3.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 3BB, 7K) of the Patriots ultimately suffered the loss in relief. Woodland’s Trent Porter (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 2BB, 1K) picked up the pitching win by working the final three frames for the Wildcats.

Peyton Posey drove in the game-winning runs in the top of the ninth with a two-run, two-out triple. Trent Porter walked with one out in the inning and his courtesy runner Fisher Davis scored. Jakiyon Porter had also walked in front of Posey and scored.

Phoenix Cramer had the other two hits for Woodland in the game including a sixth inning double. Cramer, Posey, and Zach Wilson stole one base each in the contest.

Reeves (double), Mason Tanner, and Colin Hynek had the Paulding County base hits.

The loss drops the Patriots to 9-2 overall and 0-1 in Region 7-AAAAA.

Woodland improved to 5-4 on the season and 1-0 in region play. The two teams will complete their two-game series Friday at Woodland.