"Cardiac Cats" beat Whiteoak in thrilling fashion to claim district title

Members of the 2025 Green Bobcats baseball team pose with their medals and district championship trophy.

CHILLICOTHE — For the fifth time this season, the Green Bobcats battled back to win an extra inning game and this time it brought home the hardware.

Blake Smith singled home the winning run in the eighth inning to give the Bobcats a thrilling 5-4 win over the Whiteoak Wildcats to claim the Ohio Division VII district title on Sunday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"Cardiac Cats that's all I can say," said Green coach David Shoupe. "I'm proud of our guys not folding under pressure. We've had a lot of those games this year."

The win gave Green (18-5) its first district championship since 2011 and marked the second district title for Shoupe since the 2005 season — his first tenure as the head coach for the Bobcats.

"It's just a great feeling. I loved to do it for this team. I couldn't ask for better teammates to do it with," said Smith.

The game featured two superb efforts by both starting pitchers.

Green's Landon Kimbler allowed three earned runs on eight hits and struck out seven in seven innings of work. The seniors' best work came in the second after Whiteoak managed to get two on with no outs. Kimbler responded by fanning three straight batters and keep the game scoreless.

"I'm proud of Kimbo's effort and a nice job with the freshman coming in there and throwing strikes at the end," said Shoupe.

Kase McIntyre came on in the eight to close out the game and pick up the win. McIntyre gave up a single in the inning, but retired the next two batters in order to set the table for the Bobcats' win in the bottom of the frame.

"I didn't really feel any pressure. I just came in, knew the team needed me and did my job," said McIntyre.

Whiteoak's Izayah Clift also pitched a solid 7 and 2/3 innings, striking out 10 batters, allowing five earned runs on eight hits. Clift hit his pitch count limit in the eight and had to exit the game. Kiley took the loss for the Wildcats after coming on in relief in the eighth.

The Wildcats came up with a big rally to take the lead in the seventh. Abe Flader led off with a single and later stole second. Clift was hit by a pitch to reach first. Then Michael soared a double into left to bring home two runs and make it 4-3.

Like they had done all season, the Bobcats responded in the bottom of the inning.

Gabe Blevins singled with one out and then stole second. Then with two outs, Jon Knapp came up and slapped a first pitch into left to bring home Blevins and tie the game up.

McIntyre came on in the eighth and kept the Wildcats in check to set the table in the bottom of the inning.

"We set it up well. We got the bunt by Connor moving Riddick over," said Shoupe. "And again, we set the table good and came through."

Riddick Jenkins popped up into shallow center, but the Whiteoak shortstop couldn't keep a handle on the catch and allowed Jenkins to reach base. Connor Blanton laid down a sacrifice bunt to move over Jenkins. Kiley retired the next batter, bringing Smith up to the plate with two outs.

"A new pitcher came in for my at bat, and I knew he might be a little nervous. He threw me two balls and I knew he was gonna give me something to hit. That third pitch was right in the sweet spot," said Smith.

Green got multi-hit games from three different batters as Smith went 2-4 with an RBI, Blevins 2-4 and Knapp 2-4 with a double and three RBIs. Mason Neal went 1-3, Jenkins 1-2 and Blanton 1-3 with an RBI.

The Bobcats now move onto the regional semifinals next Wednesday where they will face the Newark Catholic Green Wave at Ohio University's Bob Wren Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:00 P.M.

Whiteoak 001 001 20 = 4 9 0

Green 011 010 11 = 5 9 2

Izayah Clift, Jacob Kiley (8) and Christian Hite. Jonathan Knapp and Gabe Blevins. W–McIntyre (IP-1.0, H-1, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-0, HBP-0). Kimbler (IP-7.0, H-8, R-4, ER-2, K-7. BB-1, HBP-1) L–Kiley (IP-0.0, H-1, R-0 ER-0, K-0, BB-0, HBP-0). Clift (IP-7.2, H-8, R-5, ER-5, K-10, BB-4, HBP-1). Hitting–Whiteoak: Jonah Michael 1-3 2-RBI 2B, Zander Roades 2-4 2B, Jacob Kiley 1-3, Jacen Applegate 2-4 RBI, Christian Hite 2-4, Abe Flader 1-2 RBI; Green: Blake Smith 2-4 RBI, Gabe Blevins 2-4, Jonathan Knapp 2-4 3-RBI 2B, Mason Neal 1-3, Riddick Jenkins 1-2, Conner Blanton 1-3 RBI.

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