Central Bobcats Overcome Early Deficit to Punch Playoff Ticket

SAN ANGELO, TX-- With one game to spare, the Central Bobcats booked their ticket to the State Playoffs for the second straight year with a 12-3 win over Killeen Shoemaker on Tuesday.

"We've got a good thing going," said Central skipper Patrick Penry. "These kids came ready to play. They knew what was on the line. It's been like that all year. We've still got a lot of room to improve. That's the good thing. We clinched a playoff spot in an extremely tough district."

The Bobcats trailed 2-0 after the top of the second. Cue a bases loaded rally by the Bobcats.

Blake Mikeska notched an RBI ground out to make it 2-1. Cole Nelson and Rance Rosas followed that up with consecutive RBI singles to make it 3-2 Central. The Bobcats never relinquished their lead from that point on.

Nixon Brannan led the Bobcats with a 3-for-4 performance with four RBIs.

Rance Rosas, Micheal Cruz and Spencer Burress combined to pitch the win for the Bobcats. Rosas started the game for Central and went two innings where he allowed two runs on one hit. Cruz got the winning decision in his three innings of relief where he allowed one run on no hits with four strikeouts. Burress threw a hitless final two frames where he struck out two and walked one to close the game.

The win also gave some junior varsity kids their chance to prove themselves to coach with multiple players seeing their first playing time and just in time for the playoffs.

"We talk all season long. No matter if you're on the [junior varsity], you've got to be play-off ready," Penry said. "If you're in this program, we want you playoff ready."

As things sit right now, the Bobcats would be the third seed. However, if Belton and Copperas Cover were to split their series this week and Central beats Shoemaker in the season finale, the Bobcats could jump up to second place.

The Bobcats (13-18, 8-5) travel to Shoemaker on Friday, April 27, to conclude the regular season at 6 p.m.