The Lady Wildcat softball team put up a valiant fight in the regional semi-finals at Ponte Vedra on April 30 but fell just short, losing 8-7 to the Pirates. 

The Lady Cats were down 8-4 and rallied in the seventh inning to narrow the gap.

Baker got off to a great start in the game, however. Delicia Washington tripled and two batters later Kylie Holton brought her in with a two-run homer.

But the Pirates gave the Cats the same long ball treatment. They singled and hit a two-run homer of their own to tie the game.

Though the Wildcats performed well, Pirate ace Avery Gheer was able to keep them at arms length. Gheer struck out seven batters on the night, many at key points in the game.

Peyton Parker throws for the out at first.

The Lady Wildcat softball team came from behind to defeat Matanzas 8-3 on April 25 to advance to the regional semi-finals, where they faced Ponte Vedra on the road on Tuesday night, April 30.

The girls lost that contest by just one run. See next week's edition for further coverage.

Against Matanzas, the Cats left it till late, trailing 3-2 going into the final inning but exploding for six runs in the sixth inning to snatch the win. Corley Sweat got the win on the mound, allowing only one hit in four innings pitched. Starter Mackenzie Wingard went two innings and gave up only two hits.

The Cats jumped out on top 1-0 in the first inning. Jennifer Hodges reached on a bunt and Kylie Holton brought her home with a double to open scoring.

The Pirates tied the game and went ahead with a pair of runs in the second inning. It could have been a big inning for Matanzas but the Cats got out of the inning with the bases loaded.

Matanzas went up 3-1 in the fourth, but BCHS got one back when Branda Jarvis doubled and was brought in by Brooke Roberts.

The game looked all but over for BCHS as the first two batters went down to ground outs. Then Brooke Roberts got the rally going with a two-out double and Genie Taylor whacked a two-run homer.

Sweat, Delicia Washington, Hodges and Brandie Callaway all scored to put the game away for BCHS. Hodges was 4 for 4 on the night. The win brought the Cats’ overall record to 21-2.

Wildcat basketball alumni who went on to play college basketball.

About 240 fans showed up at the Baker High gym April 13 to see the first-ever Wildcat basketball alumni scrimmage games and take a stroll down memory lane with coaches and former players.

The games pitted men and women alums from the 2000s against their predecessors from teams in the 1990s. And despite an injury six minutes into the women’s game, organizer Marcel Thomas considered the event a success and one he and other alumni hope to replicate with other sports, perhaps as soon as June with an alumni football game.

“It was pretty good,” he said. “I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback. We want to try to do [the basketball scrimmages] every year. Everybody seemed to have a good time.”

A number of ex-Wildcats who went on to play college basketball were recognized that evening before the games began at 6 pm. They posed for a group photo at center court.

Mr. Thomas said the scrimmages were played, in part, to highlight the importance of education by showcasing Wildcat athletes who are now excelling in professional careers both here and outside the county.

The Lady Bobcat softball team captured its second straight conference title with a dominating 10-0 shutout of Taylor County on April 11 at the BCHS softball field.

Macy Jackson was only a walk away from pitching a perfect game in the championship match, and hurled a no-hitter with one base on balls. The team began the week with a 15-0 win over Richardson middle of Lake City to close out the regular season with a 12-1 record. The game was called after three innings on the mercy rule.

Taylor County never had a chance as its only base runner was picked off at first by a sharp throw from catcher Madison Kennedy. Offensively, Coach Jon Mobley’s Bobcats were led by Hayleigh Mulkey, Madison Kennedy, Emma Gipson, Karly Richardson, Tori Richardson, Lake Lewis and Jackson.

Also on the team are McKenzie Hickman, Kelsey Strickland, Sunny Christmas, Danae Miller, Allie Crummey, Peyton Staggs, Caitlin Harvin, Katherine Rhoden and Morgan Smith.

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