The Bluecats, now 8-3 and fighting for 2nd place, will play the final district game on Friday against Hamilton IN Coleman. They beat Bangs on Tuesday in an exciting game, 6-2.   It was also Senior Night, and they included the Softball Seniors since they had their final game cancelled at the last minute.   Senior Baseball and Softball players and their families are pictured in the photos above - Garrett Smith, Raelea Robinson, Brylei Gilbreath and Ryland Gentry were recognized before the Bangs game on Tuesday. 

The game on Tuesday against the Dragons was closer than the score shows, if you ask the fans in the stands!  An error by Bangs' right fielder when Kaden Johnson hit a fly ball and a walk of Jorge Salas got two on base. Then Ryland Gentry singled on a hard ground ball to right field, scoring Johnson, 1-0 Coleman up. Salas got to 3rd, and Braylon Stewart came in as his courtesy runner. While Blaze Hronek was up to bat, Gentry stole 2nd. Bangs was able to get Hronek to strike out, and Stewart was tagged out advancing to home when Jadin Jackson grounded into fielder's choice. Gentry moved to 3rd base and while Garrett Smith was up to bat, Gentry scored on a steal of home. (2-0 Coleman up at end of 1st)

Jorge Salas was on the mound and with the help of his teammates, got 3 outs with 4 batters in both the 1st, 2nd and 3rd innings. With K. Cole on the mound for Bangs, they got the Bluecats with 3 outs in 3 batters for the 2nd and 3rd innings.

In the 4th inning, the Dragons got two on base, from an error and a hit by pitch from Salas, but they weren't able to score; however, they also kept the Bluecats from scoring in the bottom of the 4th keeping the score 2-0.

In the top of the 5th another Bangs' batter was hit by a pitch, then while the next batter was at the plate, managed to advanced to 3rd base. When Powell grounded out, the Bangs' runner scored, making the game closer at 2-1.

In the bottom of the 5th Coleman scored two more runs on a single by Gentry. Johnson and Brayden Torres had both been walked, and advanced to 2nd and 3rd on a passed ball. The score was 4-1 heading into the 6th.

Salas had a pretty good night on the mound, but after walking two and Bangs getting a triple on a line drive to left field, scoring another run (4-2), Gentry was moved to the mound. The Cats had to work for the three outs in the top of the 6th. First Gentry caught a bunt hit to him that was meant to advance runners, stopping that attempt. Then Bangs' Jundt popped into a double play when shortstop Johnson caught his hit for out #1, then threw the ball back to 1st base to get the runner out that had tried to advance to 2nd. The Cats got out of that at-bat for Bangs with the score 4-2.

In the bottom of the 6th, Garrett Smith was walked, then Skylar Clark singled. Before Paul Salas came to the plate to bat, the Dragons changed pitchers to K. Minshew. After the count was 2-1, he balked advancing the runners to 2nd and 3rd. After P Salas was out, Torres singled to left field, scoring Smith. (5-2 Coleman) On the throw back in, Torres advanced to 2nd. Johnson then singled to center field advancing to 2nd on the throw, and scoring Clark. (6-2)

With batters on 2nd and 3rd, the next batter up was J Salas. Bangs chose to intentionally walk him, loading the bases. Unfortunately the next two batters were outs, leaving three Bluecats stranded on base. 

However, the Cats stepped up and got the Dragons' three outs in four batters in the top of the 7th, ending the game. After Bangs had beat Coleman on their field 13-5, the Bluecats did what they intended to do, take a win and stay in the race for 2nd place in District.

Jorge Salas was credited with the victory for Coleman, allowing two hits and two runs over five innings, striking out two. Gentry threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Kenny Cole took the loss for Bangs, allowing four hits and six runs over five innings, striking out seven.

The Coleman bats got 6 runs off 6 hits. Gentry led with two hits in 4 at bats, also getting 3 RBI's.

The Bluecats, now 8-3 and fighting for 2nd, will play the final district game on Friday against Hamilton IN Coleman. Head out to cheer on the Cats with the game slated to begin at 4:00pm. If you can't make it to the game, or are an out-of-town family member, listen on KOXE.com or the KOXE app for the streaming play-by-play. GO BLUECATS!