The Patrick County High Cougar baseball team won their third game in a row, increasing their record to 12-3 on the season with a thrilling walk-off, 7-6 win over the visiting Radford Bobcats on May 2.
Leading 6-0 through five innings, the Cougars looked like they were going to cruise to victory, but Radford would not go down easy, scoring two runs in the 6th and adding four more in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6.
Coming to bat in the seventh, there was an energy in the Cougar dugout that said they weren’t done.
“I think they felt like when we came up in the bottom of the 7th, they were going to get our run and go to the house,” said Cougar head coach Tal Swails after the game.
Jaiden Wilson led off with a line drive into right-center for a stand up triple. With the winning run standing on third, Jackson Horton laid down a bunt bringing home Wilson. After a moment of uncertainty, the home plate umpire called Wilson safe, sending the Cougar dugout onto the field in celebration.
“I’m proud of them for finishing. That’s a big win for us,” said Swails. On his team’s ability to come back from adversity, Swails added, “that’s the sign of a team that’s developing and knowing that they can’t lay down and can’t quit. One thing we have is a lot of energy. This team has energy, and I love it. We’ve come from behind in a couple of games and had to win late. They won’t lay down and that’s the sign of a good team.”
Erik Martinez-Tejada got things started at the bottom of the first with a line drive single to right field. With pinch runner Davis Lawson on first, Noah Jessup’s fly ball to deep right center landed at the fence, driving in Lawson for the game’s first run, and Jessup would motor around for a triple. Next up, Jaiden Wilson took first with a walk, then stole second, allowing a head’s up play by Jessup, who stole home, giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
Radford threatened in the fourth with runners on first and second and one out. The Cougars ended the threat with a Jessop-to-Harris-to-Horton double play, finished with a great catch by Horton at first on a high throw.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars added four more runs, highlighted by a Zach Holt triple over the Radford left fielder’s grasp for the inning’s first run.
Christian Hylton got the start for the Cougars, striking out 8 and allowing only three hits and holding Radford hitless for five innings.
At the plate, Noah Jessup went 2-4 with an RIB and a run scored. Gavin Fain, Erik Martinez-Tejada, Zach Holt, Easton Harris and Jackson Horton each chipped RBIs.
At the end of the game, Jessup’s father, Brian Jessup, referred to the team as the Cardiac Cougars.
“They have definitely put me on the verge of a heart attack repeatedly this season,” the elder Jessup quipped.
