The Smyer Bobcats squared off against the Gruver Greyhounds in the Area Round of the 2A Division 2 baseball playoffs this past Friday at Bushland ISD, resulting in the Bobcats being swept and eliminated from the playoffs.
In game one, Gruver beat Smyer 14-0 across five in nings. Gruver scored a run in the first inning, four runs in the second inning, one run in the third inning, six runs in the fourth inning and two runs in the fifth inning in route to the run-rule win.
In the team statistics, the Greyhounds bested the Bobcats 9-2 in hits, 9-4 in walks and 0-4 in errors committed.
The Bobcats standouts at the plate included Colton Burriss going 2/2, Ryann Gutierrez with two walks, and Skyler Pond and Mathew Hendon both with a walk apiece.
On the mound for the Bobcats, Austin Martinez got the start and pitched three innings, surrendering seven earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four batters. He’d be relieved by Pond, who pitched
the final two frames, surrendering two earned runs on three hits and four walks.
In game two, Gruver beat Smyer 12-2 across six innings. Smyer grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning and held it until the bottom of the fourth inning when Gruver scored seven runs. The Greyhounds would add two runs in fifth inning and three runs in the sixth inning, resulting in the run-rule win.
In the team statistics, Gruver bested Smyer 7-5 in hits, 7-2 in walks and 2-6 in errors committed.
Burriss got the start in game two for the Bobcats, pitching five innings and surrendering zero earned runs on three hits and six walks while striking out four batters. He’d be relieved by Caleb Pearce, who pitched 0.2 innings, surrendering three earned runs on four hits and a walk.
Smyer’s standouts at the plate included Pearce going 1/3 with a run-batted-in, a run scored and a stolen base, Burriss going ½ with a walk, Pond going 1/3 with a double, Gutierrez going 1/3, Martinez going 1/3 and Keaton Bradley with a run scored and a walk.
The pair of losses drop the Bobcats to 11-16 overall, eliminating them from the postseason and officially ending their season.
When reflecting upon the series, Smyer Head Baseball Coach Jerry Lawrence gave Gruver respect noting they were “very good, disciplined and well-coached." Lawrence would state his guys came out flat in game one, and in game two they competed well and just came up short, ending a season to be proud of.
“What a blessing for me to watch these guys grow and battle this season. This group of seniors are going to do amazing things in their future," Coach Lawrence said. “I would also like to thank all of the Smyer school and community for supporting these guys in so many ways, and of course Coach Schaap and Coach Allen for doing such a great job in practice, game prep, getting these guys ready, and pouring into them not only baseball but life lessons."