advertisement

Cougars claw back to beat Carrier Mills

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ A pair of three-run innings late in the game for Hardin County proved to be the difference as Carrier Mills fell to the Cougars 6-5 in the first round of the Class 1A Pope County Baseball Regional Monday.

Carrier Mills&#39; head coach Allen Jackson said that his team stranded nine runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the first inning when they failed to scored any runs.

"We just left too much out there today," Jackson said. "We wasted a big day by Gabe Morgan (3-for-3 with a run and RBI, including two triples and a double).

"We had a nice effort from Garrett Hill on the mound, but he started to wear down in the sixth and we didn&#39;t want to him to face their batters for the fourth time," Jackson said. "Dillon (Harrison) wasn&#39;t 100 percent, but he was our best option in the seventh inning and give Hardin County credit, they beat a good pitcher to win it."

Hill went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking one. Harrison relieved Hill in the seventh and allowed three runs on three hits with two walks.

The Wildcats drew first blood in the bottom of the third inning, scoring a run when Hill walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth inning, Carrier Mills put up one more run when Jordan Gilliam&#39;s RBI single scored Josh Bailey.

The last of Carrier Mills&#39; runs would come in the fifth inning when they plated three.

JR Brown got things going with a double, followed by an RBI double by Harrison. Morgan then tripled to scored Harrison and Bailey&#39;s single scored Morgan.

Gilliam finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Tyler Absher, Bailey, Hill and Harrison all finished 1-for-4. Brown and Morgan both finished 1-for-3.

Jackson added that despite all the injuries and problems Carrier Mills encountered throughout the year, he&#39;s thankful for the kids that stayed with him and wishes it had turned out differently.

"A lot of people were significant in things this year, from my coaches to Girls In The Garage and Grant&#39;s Clothing. We didn&#39;t end things the way we wanted to, but we gave it a good fight."