'Cats End Skid, Beat Raiders, 6-3.

GAINESVILLE--The Buchholz Bobcats walked onto their home field last night having lost nine of their last 10 games dating back to March 23. For a month, the ‘Cats clawed at wins, only to come up with defeats.

Last night, their bats finally broke through and pitching was near-perfect as the ‘Cats won a tense game, 6-3 against the Santa Fe Raiders.

“Anytime you play a county team, it’s a good rivalry,” Bobcats skipper Ron Brooks said. “We got a great start from Noah Keeter. He really picked us up and we haven't had a lot of good starts, lately. Max (Pearton) came in and threw well. I was excited about the way we came out and played tonight.”

Keeter didn't allow a hit until the top of the fourth inning when Raiders sophomore Ethan Thompson notched a single, but the ‘Cats definitely had their bats swinging way earlier.

Junior catcher Brooks Walton hit an RBI-Single to bring Quinton McNitt home and break the ice. Santa Fe made a throwing error in the bottom of the second to bring senior infielder Brian McMann home, followed by an RBI-Single by junior shortstop James Sapp. Buchholz led 3-0 by the end of the second inning.

“We sparked some fire,” Keeter said. “We lost nine in a row until this game. Kind of saw that we had a chance and we took it.”

Santa Fe cracked the scoreboard off a Fielder’s Choice play by Buchholz in the top of the fifth, but ‘Cats clutch hitter Hunter Ruth responded with an RBI-Single of his own in the bottom fifth. Kyle Macalindong advanced home off a groundout by McMann, giving Buchholz a 5-1 lead late in the fifth.

The two teams would trade runs in the sixth, but it wasn't enough for Santa Fe to recover. Now, the attention shifts towards The Villages for Senior Night on Thursday at 7 pm. Pearton, a senior himself, already knows it’s going to be a moment he won't forget.

“I’ve thought about it, some. It’s going to be weird,” Pearton smiled. “I haven't played here as much as these other guys because I transferred (from Oak Hall). But, it’s going to be surreal.”

Then after that, it’s District playoff time.

“Felt good to get back in the win column, tonight. Hopefully we can use this as a way to kind of energize us moving forward,” Brooks said. “We play Chiles, the No. 1 seed, so it will be a challenge. But, I think our kids will respond well. Anything can happen in that game.”