The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears rallied late to take the lead and then got a clutch relief performance to preserve the victory. The Bears split their two-game series with the Bridge City Cardinals, LC-M winning 5-4 Friday at Don Gibbens Field.
Trailing 4-0, LC-M scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead. Truman Franklin relieved Bears’ starting pitcher Slade Green in the sixth. After walking the first batter he faced, Franklin retired the next six Cardinals to earn the save.
The big five-run fifth started with Taylor Gilbert reaching on an error. Chris Bilbo spanked a double to the fence in right field to put Bears at second and third with no outs. John Beeson flew out to right to bring in Gilbert to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 4-1.
Jordan Alexander walked on a three-two pitch which prompted Bridge City to take its starter Caleb DuBois out and bring in Justyn Romero to pitch. Reid Saperstein walked on another full count to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Bilbo with the second Bears’ run and put runners at second and third.
Michael Lee hit a grounder to the third which was bobbled and everyone was safe cutting the deficit to one and leaving LC-M with runners on the corner. Franklin lined a curve ball to right for a game-tying base hit. That was all for Romero.
The Cardinals’ third pitcher of the inning Gavin Green struck out Anthony Bandiero. Slade Green put the Bears in the lead lining a single to left that scored Lee. Franklin was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second, but the damage had been done with LC-M on top 5-4.
Case Skinner singled to start the Bridge City sixth. LC-M Coach Steve Griffith took Slade Green out and called on Franklin to pitch. Franklin was the losing pitcher in Tuesday’s game at Bridge City, but only threw about 50 pitches.
Franklin walked Gavin Green to put the tying run only 180 feet away from scoring. DuBois the top of the Cardinals’ batting order flew out to left. Franklin struck out Luc Hollier and got Schuyler Thibodaux to fly to center to end the threat. In the seventh the Cardinals were retired in order by Franklin, the only inning Bridge City did not have a baserunner in the game.
Bridge City had built its four lead with a run in the first aided by a pop fly in the infield that was lost in the sun and fell for a base hit. Three Cardinals scored in the top of the fifth with the help of an error and a double steal which scored the fourth Bridge City run.
Little Cypress-Mauriceville (3-1) is tied with Bridge City (3-1) in the district race. Next week the Bears play two games against the Orangefield Bobcats, Tuesday at LC-M and Friday at Orangefield. The Cardinals play two with the West Orange-Stark Mustangs. The first game will be at WO-S and the second at Bridge City.
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