Bobcats come up short in Final Four quest

COLUMBUS − Cambridge High's spirited tournament run came to an end on Friday afternoon at Ohio Dominican University's Frank Damian Field, just one game short of earning a spot in the OHSAA's Division II Final Four.

The Bobcats dropped a 10-0 decision to Washington Court House in a six-inning, mercy-rule game to come up just short of winning the school's first-ever regional baseball championship.

"Naturally this was not the result we wanted," Cambridge head coach Jamaal Lowery explained. "We knew coming into the game that they had some really good pitching, with the lefty (Miller) that we saw today throwing a perfect game this season.

"We started slowly offensively," Lowery added. "Then we started to hit the ball hard, but they were able to make the plays, including a few really standout plays. They just had all the answers, and that's just the game of baseball sometimes."

Ending the Bobcats' postseason march was a stellar pitching performance from the Washington Court House duo of Will Miller and Andrew Dallmayer, who combined to toss a no hitter. The pair only issued one free pass, facing 19 batters while recording 18 outs.

Despite the disappointing conclusion, Lowery pointed out the accomplishments of his squad with the Elite Eight appearance.

"For me I think back to where this program started, and where we are now," Lowery explained. "In the last 2-3 years, this team has played for OVAC championships, captured a pair of district titles and today played for a regional championship with a shot at advancing to state championship Final Four.

"All stepping stones to now have this program headed in the right direction," Lowery continued. "This was a storybook season with this group putting up memories that will last a lifetime. I'm just very proud of this group, and they have nothing to feel bad about. This result does not take anything away from what they accomplished."

Freshman Garrett Carpenter took the mound for the Bobcats and got off to a shaky start with the Washington Court House offense jumping out to the lead early, scoring three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning.

Carpenter settled down after the rough start, keeping the Blue Lions off the scoreboard in both the second and third innings before surrendering the fourth run on a hit and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth frame.

Freshman Dawson Geese relieved Carpenter in the fifth, recording the final two outs of the inning. Geese then ran into trouble in the sixth and was replaced by senior Caden Moore after the Blue Lions put together five singles with three hit batters to score six runs and end the game early with the 10-0 final margin.

Carpenter took the loss for the Bobcats, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks, while striking out three. Geese worked an inning and was charged with six runs, while giving up four hits and a base on balls with three strikeouts. Moore recorded a strikeout before the game ended.

Washington Court House improved to an impressive 27-1 mark on the season and will now take on Ontario on Friday at 1 p.m. in Division II state semifinal action at Canal Park in Akron.

"My five seniors, Jake Valentine, Caden Moore, Davion Bahr, Andy Ogle and Angelo Rocco, are going to be missed,” Lowery said. “Those seniors went out with an Elite Eight appearance and were huge part of building the program to what it is today. They all have bright futures and I’ll always cherish these past four years with them.”

The Bobcats finished the season with a 17-5 record and their second District Championship in three seasons.

KSutton1@gannett.com; @KevinDJsports