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After a three game series sweep against Region rival Shaw, the Bainbridge High School Bearcats baseball team secured a Region 1-AAAA Championship, their second title in the past three seasons. Going into their series against Shaw, the Bearcats knew that this series would be their most anticipated and challenging one yet as both teams came into the series neck and neck in the standings, the Bearcats seized their opportunity at the right time. 

Going into their three game series against Shaw, the Bearcats sat at the top of their Region with an undefeated 6-0 Region record and an 8–8 record overall. However, right behind them in the standings sat Shaw as they had a 5-1 Region record and an equally impressive 15-6 record overall. Simply put, whoever dominated this series was going to be the top Region 1-AAAA team in the 2023 season. 

Thursday night the Bearcats traveled to Shaw to kickoff their three game series and played one of their most dominant games of the season, putting up 16 runs on the day. The Bearcats put up a three spot in the first inning to take an early lead and never looked back. Dominant fourth and fifth innings at the plate and on the basepath saw the Bearcats combine for 11 runs while holding Shaw to just two as the Bearcats took home the first game 16-2. 

On Friday night the Bearcats returned home for a double-header to finish out the three game set at home for a chance to bring home a Region title. The first game featured an entertaining back and forth game between both teams as fans could feel the magnitude of the series. For the first game of the night, Bearcats pitcher Chris Cooper took the mound and pitched a terrific five innings, striking out five batters and only giving up two earned runs. 

Offensively, Bricen Palmer provided a spark for the Bearcats offense as he drove in three runs with just one swing of the bat while also scoring two of his own. Center Fielder Bo Smith also had a solid day at the plate, going two for five with two RBI’s and one run scored. Drew Clayton led the Bearcats on the basepath as he scored three runs on the day to lead the team. 

As the Bearcats offense rallied, they were able to close Shaw out in the seventh inning as they narrowly walked away with a 7-6 win in game one of their Friday double-header. 

For the final game of the series, Koby Wynn took the mound for the Bearcats and pitched a solid three innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four batters and picking up the win. Kagan Castro and Cain Worthington came in to finish the job behind Wynn, combining for three strikeouts and only allowing two hits. 

On the offensive side, it was another offensive explosion for the Bearcat bats as they put up 17 total runs on their way to a dominant win to cap off a series sweep and a Region title. Not only was Koby Wynn a force on the mound, but he was dominant in the batters box as he went four for five with four hits, five RBI’s and scoring three runs. Bolton Yarbrough, Bo Smith and Brooks Hines also had a great day offensively, scoring three runs a piece. 

The Bearcats walked away with a 17-7 win in game two of their double header to not only complete a series sweep of Shaw, but also capture the Bearcats second Region 1-AAAA Baseball Championship in three years.