LOOGOOTEE – Bedford North Lawrence concluded the regular season with a 5-2 triumph over Loogootee during high school baseball action on Monday.
The Stars scored three runs in the first inning, and freshman hurler Cam Gates allowed only three hits in five innings to propel BNL (15-11) into the postseason with momentum.
“It’s always nice to score in the first inning,” BNL coach Jeff Callahan said. “It allows your pitcher and defense to be more relaxed. We did what we needed to do, in our last dress rehearsal before the sectional.”
BNL struck early as Cal Gates singled, Kline Woodward cranked a RBI double to center, Ryker Hughes followed with a run-scoring double to right, and Walker Ward added a RBI single. The Stars added a run in the second when Trace Rynders reached on an infield single and Maddox Ray ripped a triple to center.
Cal Gates led off the BNL fifth with a home run to center (his third of the year) to cap the scoring.
The Lions (10-11) scored twice in the fifth, taking advantage of a BNL error to collect two-out RBI singles by Mason Britton and Leighton Jeffers.
Cal Gates had two hits and scored twice. Cam Gates struck out five, and Carter Bennett worked the final two innings on the mound. Jeffers had two hits for Loogootee.
“Cam did good job,” Callahan said. “When he gets his curve ball over for strikes, he’s very effective. The big thing was he worked ahead in the count.”
BNL will face Jeffersonville in the first game of the Class 4A sectional at Seymour on Wednesday. Loogootee will battle Orleans in the first game of the Class A sectional at Loogootee on Wednesday.
