So close
Bears lose to Canton & Bullard

Chad Wilson Photo FINAL HOME GAME-- Senior Clayton Boyd watches a fly ball during his final home game at Bear Field.

Everything appeared to be in the Bears favor last Friday night as they hosted the Bullard Panthers at Bear Field in Brownsboro.

Bullard struck first scoring in the top of the third inning after reaching base on a walk of Brownsboro pitcher Ryan Epperson.

In the bottom half of the third inning the Bears tied the game on a RBI double by Collin Wilson. Jeremy Monroe scored the tieing run after reaching base on a walk.

With the game tied at one both pitchers kept the opposing batters at bay until Bullard scratched across a run in the seventh inning.

Down by one entering the home half of the seventh inning things looked prime for the Bears to earn their third district win of the season.

In the Bears previous two victories they used late inning heroics to defeat Athens and Chapel Hill.

Daniel Suggs led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to centerfield on the first pitch of the inning.

Suggs was replaced by Cameron Warren on the bases and Warren wasted no time showing his speed as he stole second.

Chad Wilson Photo SENIOR NIGHT-- As traditions continue the Brownsboro seniors were honored before Friday night's home finale. Senior Jordan Magee played his final home game as a Bear.

Warren advanced to third on a wild pitch with no outs and Ryan Smith at the plate. Smith struck out on an outside called strike for the first out of the inning.

Monroe drew another walk after a very good at bat in wich he fell behind in the count early.

With two on and just one out Monroe stole second to put the winning run in scoring position.

Junior leadoff hitter Collin Wilson stepped to the plate and looked to drive at least one run with a bunt.

Wilson's first bunt attempt rolled foul, forcing Wilson to forgo the bunt and swing for a base hit. The very next pitch was called a strike on the outside corner as Wilson stood in disbelief, recording the second out of the inning.

Down to their last out, freshman Brad McDonald stepped to the plate and popped the first pitch he saw from Bullard pitcher Travis Eudey up to third base. McDonald's pop out was the final out of the game.

Brownsboro totaled 4 hits and four walks in the game. Brownsboro pitcher Ryan Epperson allowed just three hits but walked 8 batters. Epp had 8 strike outs in the game.

With the 2-1 loss the Bears fell to 2-7 in District 14-3A play, Bullard improved to 5- 4. Athens and Van stand atop of the District standings with records of 6-3 as of Monday.

Prior to falling to Bullard the Bears lost to Canton 6-2 last Tuesday as Canton's Josh Wilson picked up his second win of the season against the Bears.

Canton totaled 12 hits in the win while Brownsboro recorded 5 hits. Ryan Smith and Daniel Suggs each had an RBI in the loss.

Keaton Parsell was on the mound for the Bears and struck out 10 Eagles in seven innings.

Brownsboro's final game of the season was Tuesday in Athens. Game results and a season wrap up in next week's issue of The Statesman.