When all was said and done last week at Pope High School, the Winder-Barrow High School Diamond Doggs, while disappointed they would not be advancing, knew they had accomplished quite a bit during the 2011 campaign.
WBHS fell to Pope 4-3 in nine innings in the opener before seeing its season end with a 10-0 setback in the second game. The first game, which saw the Bulldoggs miss opportunities to win, ended up getting away from WBHS.
“We had chances that we couldn’t capitalize on,” Bulldogg coach Brian Smith said. “I am not sure it played a role in carrying over to the second game. We have been good all season about separating each game and going day-to-day. I guess we’ll never know for sure. You have to give Pope credit. They are a good team and it would be nice to see them go far.”
While the loss from the first game last Wednesday may or may not have played a role in the second game, it had to be one of the most disappointing losses of the season.
Taylor Keinat pitched seven strong innings allowing just two earned runs and striking out eight batters.
Travis Demeritte was brought in to work the eighth and struck out the side. Pope’s Connor Lynch would end the game in the bottom of the ninth, however, on a walk-off single.
The game lasted more than two and a half hours.
In the second game, WBHS missed a scoring opportunity in the first and things never seemed to get on track for the Bulldoggs the rest of the way. Austin Meyer earned the start in game two but was injured on a play at first base and was then moved to the outfield.
Demeritte was brought in for the middle innings with Clayton Eames working the final two.
Grayson Ivey was 5-for-7 in the two games while Eames had a two-run RBI in the opener.
WBHS capped the 2011 season with a 21-10 record.
“I am very proud of where we are as a program,” Smith said. “We have made the playoffs three of the last four years and won at least 20 games three yeras in a row. We have also made two trips to the Sweet 16.”
Preparation for the summer schedule will now begin for returning players.
