By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - A two-out RBI single from Brad Potts in the bottom of the 12th inning was able to push the ‘Cats past the Scott City Rams in the Class 3, District 1 tournament on Saturday (May 14) night.

“I’m so proud of my guys,” head coach Brian Becker said after the game. “We were down by two runs late in the game and we pulled it out. We had some opportunities to score some more runs, but for whatever reason we didn’t.”


Becker noted Scotty City’s pitching staff in forcing the game to go as long as it did.

“You’ve gotta tip your cap to Scott City’s pitchers; [Hunter Cox] was in a tough spot and struck out our three, four, and five hitters in the fifth inning to keep us down by three and only gave up one run out of a bases loaded, no-out situation on a pass ball.”


“[Scott City is] a very good ball club; they’ve been here before. It’s their first year in class three - they were a final four team in class 2. They’re a very good ball club, but I’m proud of my guys for gutting this one out.”



Potts wasn’t the only hero in the contest, however. Teammate Alex Cliff, who has posted double digit RBI’s in the last two games, hit a bloop single into right field with two outs to drive in two runs in the bottom of the seventh and force extra innings. “That hit by Cliff was huge,” Becker said. “It was a big hit that we’d been lacking earlier in a game. He couldn’t have picked a better spot to do it in.”


“Pottsy got a base hit the at-bat before so I knew he was starting to come around a little bit,” Becker added. “He didn’t look very good at the plate early in the game, but he put the bat on the ball and scored Nick Noble.”

Potts came in to pitch in relief of Jordan Miller with no outs and a man on in the fourth inning. Miller, who started for the ‘Cats, struggled from the rubber and gave up eight hits and four runs, with five K’s.

Potts fanned four while walking one in his four shutout innings of work.


Becker made the decision to pull Potts from the mound before the start of the ninth inning.

“Brad had thrown 80-plus pitches, and as cold as it was tonight - a district win isn’t as important to me as my pitcher’s arm,” Becker noted. “He was cruising and pitching well. I asked him how he was feeling and he said his back was a little tight, so I made the decision to pull him.”


Owen Flowers came in to close out the game in the start of the ninth inning. Flowers struck out three but gave up two runs in the tenth.
“Owen Flowers came in and did a good job. He gave up a couple runs there in the top of the 10th, but he settled in and did a good job after that,” Becker added. “He got out there and got a win.”




With the win, the ‘Cats (10-10) move to .500 on the season, and look to move above .500 Monday (May 16) night when they face the Kennett Indians. Becker noted that the team’s struggles in the field can’t happen if the Bearcats want to have a shot at the district title.

“We have to make plays if we want to have a chance to beat Kennett. They’re one of the toughest teams in Missouri - not just southeast missouri, the whole state - but people don’t know that yet,” Becker said. “I’ve watched those kids develop over the last couple years - a lot of them were starters as freshman or starters. I don’t even know who we’ll see on the mound - it’ll probably be Andy Lack.”


Becker is unsure of who will get the start for the ‘Cats in the contest.


“We used a lot of pitchers that threw a lot of pitches tonight,” Becker said, “but whoever I stick out there Monday, I’m going to hand them the ball and expect them to do the job.”


 The Indians and the Bearcats will face off in the semifinal game of the Class 3, District 1 tournament on Monday night, with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

Photos above Top Photo: Brad Potts gets a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th inning to push the 'Cats past the Scott City Rams in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament.
Bottom photo: Jordan Miller delivers a pitch during the second inning of Saturday night's matchup against Scott City.