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It took all three games, but Opp outlasted Bayside Academy with two wins in a baseball first-round series at home on Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19.

The Bobcats improved to 23-5 on the season and advanced to the second round this week. The Admirals saw their season come to a close at 17-15.

Game 1: Opp 2, Bayside 1
Riley Day took a two-out walk in the bottom of the third inning and stole second. Cash Harrell followed with an RBI single and plated Day with the first run as Opp grabbed a 1-0 lead.

Bayside responded right back in the top of the fourth when Christopher Dean hit a leadoff homer and tied the game at 1-1.

Both teams settled down and saw their pitching take the spotlight over the next few innings. The Admirals threatened in their half of the sixth with back-to-back singles and a hit batter. Porter Nelson worked out of the jam unscathed as the score remained tied at 1-1 after six innings.

After Nelson picked up two strikeouts in the visiting seventh, the Bobcats took control in their half. Grady Patterson began the frame with a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nolan Brown. Nelson then singled and put runners at the corners. Courtesy runner Matthew Morgan took over at third and scored the winning ruin after Parker Burgess lifted a sacrifice fly.

Patterson finished the game 2-for-3, while Harrell was 1-for-3. Nelson earned the complete game win and allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts.

Game 2: Opp 13, Bayside 18
Patterson earned a two-out double in the top of the first and crossed the plate for the first run of the second game and a 1-0 lead. Palmer Angermeier evened the score at 1-1 with an RBI single in the bottom half.

Opp wasted no time and went back to work hanging six on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Nelson and Baylor Turman both singled before a pop-up. Clay Jackson then ripped a two-run triple and sent Nelson and Turman both home for a 3-1 margin. Morgan scored the fourth run when Harrell delivered an RBI double. Peacock hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out but scored Day. Harrell stole home and Nelson stroked an RBI single that brought home Luke Sanders for a 7-1 lead.

The Bobcats continued to see their offense spark with four more runs in the third. Harrell came through with a clutch two-run single to plate Burgess and Morgan for a 9-1 lead. Brown followed suit and sent Day and Harrell both to the plate as the lead grew to 11-1.

Bayside did not back down and answered with five runs in the bottom half to cut the hole to 11-6 after three innings. The momentum rolled over to the bottom of the fourth with seven runs. Weston Hannaman had the big hit with a bases-clearing double for an 12-11 lead. A balk brought Hannaman home as the Admirals led 13-11 after four innings.

Opp was unable to take advantage of a leadoff double by Dawson Peacock in the top of the fifth. Bayside continued to fine tune its offense and found the plate five more times. Noah Cain knocked the big hit of the frame with a two-run double and made the score 18-11 after five innings.

Following a scoreless sixth, the Bobcats made one last rally attempt in the top of the seventh. Harrell was hit by a pitch before Patterson and Peacock each singled and loaded the bases with no outs. Turman brought Harrell in on a two-out single before Burgess kept the game alive and reached on an error that sent Patterson home.

The Admirals held on to even the series and force a deciding third game on Saturday.

Peacock led the batting charge going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Harrell was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Jackson and Brown each finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Peacock started on the mound and tossed three innings giving up five runs on five hits with one strikeout.

Game 3: Opp 14, Bayside 4
Opp came out with authority in the deciding game and immediately went full throttle with eight runs in the bottom of the first inning. Peacock started the scoring outburst with an RBI single, while Nelson cleared the bases with an RBI triple. After a groundout from Turman brought Nelson home with the fifth run, Harrell emptied the bases with an RBI double and took the lead to 8-0 after one inning.

Bayside got on the scoreboard when Hannaman scored on a passed ball and brought the gap to 8-1. The score stayed 8-1 until the top of the fifth inning.

Hannaman was the run producer this time with a two-run double and drew the Admirals within five at 8-3. The Bobcats had an answer in their half of the fifth. Day scored Morgan on a sacrifice fly, and Harrell knocked in Talan Wicker with an RBI single for a 10-3 lead after five innings.

Angermeier delivered an RBI single in the top of the sixth and made the score 10-4. Opp needed only four runs to call the game an inning early and accomplished just that. Peacock and Brown, who both walked to begin the frame, came home on back-to-back RBI singles from Burgess and Jackson for a 12-4 lead. After Day took another walk, Harrell lined a two-run single that plated Burgess and Jackson for the final tally.

Jackson was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Harrell went 3-for-4 with a run scored and produced a career-high six RBIs. Nelson was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Brown grabbed the win after pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing four runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts.

Opp will travel to Bibb County (23-9) for a second-round series beginning Friday, April 25, at 4:30 p.m. If a third game is needed, it will be played Saturday, April 26, at noon.