Senior Kaleb Menard started the game on the hill for the Orangefield Bobcats and he took the Zebras from Grandview down in order in the first. Then he followed that with a two run double in the bottom of the first and Kayle Spears drove in courtesy runner Adam Myers as the Bobcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
They would finish off the Zebras with a 5-2 victory. The win sweeps the series and sends the Bobcats to the Region Final next week where they will play the Huntington Red Devils, who swept Little River with a walk-off in Game Two.
For Head Coach Jake Nash, it’s his first time in the Region Final after losing in the semis last year to Whitney. “Regional Finals sounds good. It’s an awesome feeling.” he said. “After losing last year that was one of the goals of our nine seniors was to go farther than we did last year.”
Game One hero Carson Worthy would lead off the fourth with a double and Layne Reynolds drove in courtesy runner Colton Michael for a 4-1 lead. In the sixth Kaysen Click drove in Kyler Green to make it 5-1. The Zebras would make it interesting in the seventh. Menard would give up a single before running out of pitches. He was replaced by Jack Pate who loaded the bases then walked in a run after a couple of questionable no-calls. The Zebras best hitter Braden Grigar stepped to the plate and Pate got him to pop up for the final out.
Menard struck out nine in the victory. He gave up one earned run on two hits with four walks. Reynolds was 3-3 at the plate with an RBI.
“I’m so proud of these guys,” Nash said. When asked about the storyline for the 2026 team Nash said, “Resiliency.”
Huntington is coached by Shawn Mixson who lead Jasper to a State Title in 2007. He lead the Red Devils to the State Semifinals last season where they lost to CC London. The series will be announced soon.
–
Social Media