THOMASVILLE — Thomasville’s unblemished record was nearly tarnished Friday night.
The Bulldogs overcame deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 to rally past the Cairo Syrupmakers 7-4 at the Bryant-Garner Sports Complex.
“We swung the bat well tonight,” said Thomasville (5-0) coach Erik McDougald, whose team tallied nine hits. “We did hit the ball well tonight, so I was pleased with that because I consider (Tracy Asbell) a good pitcher.”
The Cairo hurler worked into the fifth inning but was victimized by poor defensive play. The Syrupmakers committed six errors that aided the Bulldogs in the comeback.
Thomasville trailed 4-3 in the fifth inning when Thomas Cone reached on an infield error that allowed the tying run to score. Pitcher Tanner Warren gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with an RBI single.
“Give Thomasville credit. They kept putting it in play, which tonight was about all they needed to do,” Cairo coach Ron Best said. “Our defensive errors certainly put us behind the eight ball, so to speak.”
Thomasville tacked on two runs in the sixth inning with RBIs by Brooks Woodward and Warren.
Warren pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs. In seven innings, he scattered five hits, walked three and struck out seven, including Johnathan Moore to end the game.
“As I told Tanner right after the game, that was the game I’d been waiting to see out of him for a long time,” McDougald said. “He did a good job of pitching tonight. He’s a smart kid. He’s just got to trust his ability.
“I think he did a much better job of trusting his stuff and letting his defense play behind him tonight.”
Warren also had a solid night at the plate, picking up three hits and two RBIs. Catcher Jake Fletcher had two hits, including a one-out double that started the Bulldogs’ three-run fifth inning.
Cairo jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind a pair of RBI doubles by Asbell. Thomasville responded with single runs in the third and fourth innings to tie the game.
The Syrupmakers jumped back ahead in the fifth inning. After Asbell was intentionally walked with two outs, Matthew Ferguson cranked a two-run double.
The lead evaporated in the bottom of the inning, though, leading to Cairo’s fourth straight defeat to begin the season.
“It is very frustrating. Everybody knew in Cairo, players included, they knew we were a very young and inexperienced team,” Best said. “We should not be missing routine ground balls and not making routine plays. Whether you’re a tenth grader or a freshman or a senior, those (plays) should be made. We’re going to keep working on that and, hopefully, we get better once we get into our region season.”
Thomasville will try to improve to 6-0 today as it hosts Atkinson County at 1 p.m.
“It’s a great start. The guys are gaining confidence,” McDougald said. “It was just another (game) where we just took advantage of the opportunities we were given.”
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Thomasville’s Brian Miller dives back to first base before a tag is applied by Cairo’s Donnie Baxter. Clint Thompson
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