The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

Greenbrier baseball overcomes seventh-inning deficit, walks off Watertown




Senior Gabe Matherly shows bunt. Matherly hit the walk-off single in the seventh inning.DAVID RUSSELL

Senior Gabe Matherly shows bunt. Matherly hit the walk-off single in the seventh inning.DAVID RUSSELL

“We’re here for a reason.”

Greenbrier head coach Justin Alberson shed a tear thinking about his pride and confidence in his team after their come-from-behind 6-5 walk-off victory over Watertown Wednesday.

What started out as a pitcher’s duel quickly turned into a chaotic sequence of events.

Sophomore Trent Miller, Greenbrier’s ace all season, got the start for the Bobcats. He held his own in the first five innings, allowing no runs in that span.

“He left it all out there on the field; there’s no doubt about that,” Alberson said. “His maturity has grown a lot as a player, and it’s really been awesome to watch him grow.”

The Bobcats could not touch Watertown starter Brandon Watts in the first four innings. The fifth inning was another story.

Senior Eli Hawkins brought home Bryan Bagwell, Titus Suggs and Stoney Smith with a single and later scored on a Brady Knepper single.

It appeared Miller may finish the game with a quick, easy two innings, and the Bobcats would advance only using one arm. That was not the case.

Sophomore Trent Miller got the start Wednesday against Watertown, throwing 100 pitches and allowing four runs.DAVID RUSSELL

Sophomore Trent Miller got the start Wednesday against Watertown, throwing 100 pitches and allowing four runs.DAVID RUSSELL

A Watertown single, walk and double scored one run with two outs.

Miller induced a pop fly in the infield, and since there were two outs, the infield fly rule was not in effect. Knepper and Stoney Smith collided on the mound and were unable to put the inning away. Two runs scored. One more single evened the score at four.

Greenbrier head coach Justin Alberson made the decision to take his ace out of the game.

“He was losing some velocity and losing a little command,” Alberson said. “We felt that it was necessary to make the change and move forward.”

Dalton Wilbur took the mound and got the third out. He also got the first out of the seventh inning before being replaced with Jacob Conquest.

Watertown took the lead in the top of the seventh, leaving Greenbrier with three outs to pick up a run. Seniors Smith, Hunter Thaxton and Hawkins were due up, seemingly hand-picked for the moment.

Titus Suggs swings at a ball Wednesday.DAVID RUSSELL

Titus Suggs swings at a ball Wednesday.DAVID RUSSELL

Smith singled, and Thaxton was hit by a pitch. Hawkins, a Bryan College commit, stepped to the plate, unaware of the misfortune that awaited him.

He attempted to lay down a bunt, but popped it in the air, freezing the runners. Playing third base, Watts dove but could not come up with it. However, the Purple Tigers turned a double play because the Bobcats did not run on contact.

Now down to their last out, all their momentum was gone as Ethan Williams came up to bat. He poked a single through, and Brady Knepper struck a ball into center field to score the game’s tying run.

With the winning run on second, senior Gabe Matherly came to the plate with one thing on his mind.

“I don’t want this to be my last game,” Matherly said. “That’s all that matters. I want to keep on playing.”

It would not be his last game. Matherly saw a first-pitch fastball and shot a line drive into the outfield, allowing the winning run to score.

Senior Stoney Smith eyes the ball on the base path.DAVID RUSSELL

Senior Stoney Smith eyes the ball on the base path.DAVID RUSSELL

“Gabe’s a tough kid,” Alberson said. “He’s played football, and he’s wrestled. He understands adversity. It’s his time. It was his opportunity.”

While Smith, Thaxton and Hawkins have been crucial for the Bobcats, their depth deserves a lot of credit. Top to bottom, the Bobcats have talent and have brought the work ethic to succeed.

“I think it’s just fight,” Alberson said. “It’s the attitude that we’ve worked our tails off to be here. It’s just that not-quit mentality.”

The Bobcats played again Wednesday, defeating Covington 11-9. They will face Gibbs Thursday at 2 p.m. at Blackman High School.

Dalton Wilbur sets under a fly ball.DAVID RUSSELL

Dalton Wilbur sets under a fly ball.DAVID RUSSELL

Senior Gabe Matherly drops a bunt.DAVID RUSSELL

Senior Gabe Matherly drops a bunt.DAVID RUSSELL

Sophomore Trent Miller allowed four runs on 100 pitches.DAVID RUSSELL

Sophomore Trent Miller allowed four runs on 100 pitches.DAVID RUSSELL

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