The Cherokee Bluff Bears faced off against the Lovett Lions in their third playoff game of the season on Monday, May 1st, 2023. The Bears were coming off a dominating win to Lovett in their previous game, and they were determined to make it back to back.
The Bears started off the game strong, with three of their batters getting hit by wild pitches in the first inning. This was followed by a clutch hit from Brett House, who drove a line drive to center field, bringing in Vokal and Miele to score. Thompson then stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive to right field, bringing in Bryce England to extend Cherokee Bluff's lead.
The starting pitcher for Cherokee Bluff, Holton, was in top form on the mound. He led the team through the first inning with a 1-2-3 bottom, shutting down Lovett's batters with ease. Holton continued to dominate in the third inning, not allowing Lovett to score.
In the top of the third inning, Kemp came up to bat and hit a single line drive to left center, bringing Bryce England in to score and extending Cherokee Bluff's lead even further. It looked as though the Bears were in complete control of the game.
However, things started to unravel for Cherokee Bluff in the fourth inning. Errors began to plague the team, allowing Lovett to score four runs and narrow the gap. Despite the mistakes, the Bears were still leading the game and hoped to hold on for the win.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lovett tied up the game with a single line drive to center field. The game was now tied 5-5, and tensions were high as both teams fought for the lead.
The game went into extra innings, with neither team able to gain the upper hand. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lovett's Lopez-Ayala hit a homerun to right field, giving the Lions a walk-off victory and ending the game with a score of 6-5.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Cherokee Bluff Bears, who had fought hard throughout the game. Despite the disappointing outcome, the team can hold their heads up high knowing that they gave it their all.
As a Cherokee Bluff fan, it was a rollercoaster of emotions watching the game. The team showed great determination and skill, and it was clear that they gave it their all. We look forward to seeing what they will accomplish in their future endeavors.
