Mon, March 18: The Wildcats defeated the Brunswick Pirates Monday night in dramatic fashion at Wildcat Field, by a score of 3-2.  Sophomore Noah Stone pitched a complete 7-inning gem, allowing just two runs (only one earned), striking out five, giving up only five hits, and not allowing a base on balls.  

The Cats scored in the bottom of the 1st inning when Lee Johnson led off the game with a double, and Grant Wagner drove him in with a single.  Brunswick scores a run in the fifth when Wellman drives in Thomas.  

The Cats strike right back in the bottom of the fifth when Lee Johnson's sacrifice fly drives in Bryce Hendricks.  The Pirates scored one in the top of the seventh to tie the game at two runs a piece.  Cooper Mobley starts the drama by drilling a single to right field in the bottom of seventh.  Bryce Hendricks follows with a bullet to left past the shortstop, and pinch runner Kirk Scott advances to second base.  

Coach Hill then sends pinch hitter Gavin Martin to the plate.  

On the first pitch Gavin saw, in walk-off fashion, hit a rocket up the middle, the aluminum bat shattered into three pieces, and Scott scored from second.  BALLGAME!

After the game, several baseball gurus indicated to me that they've never seen a metal composite aluminum bat explode like that!

The Wildcats (7-8) travel to Brunswick (10-6) Wednesday, March 20, with a 6 p.m. first pitch. On Thursday, March 21, the Cats host the Pirates again at 6 p.m.

Allen Cox is a baseball contributor for the Bryan County News. He was previously head coach of Richmond Hill High School's softball team from 2004-2007.