CHILLICOTHE — Jon Knapp allowed 5 hits, struck out 11 batters, but a late 7th-inning rally by the Southern Tornadoes proved to be the difference, as the Green Bobcats fell 7-6 Division 4 district semifinals on Saturday.
Southern advances to the district finals to face Leesburg Fairfield on Monday at Veterans Stadium in Chillicothe.
The Bobcats (16-7) controlled the momentum through the first three innings, as Knapp struck out 5 batters and retired Tornado batters in order during the first and third innings.
Green scored the games' first runs in the bottom of the first, getting three unearned runs to take a 3-0 lead. Knapp helped himself out at the plate, driving home a run on a sacrifice fly in the inning.
But the momentum shifted in the top of the 4th, as Southern took advantage of two throwing errors and a walked batter to grab a 4-3 lead.
The Bobcats tied the game at 4-all in the bottom of the 5th. Nathaniel Brannigan singled and stole second to get into scoring position. Then Knapp got his second RBI of the game on a 2-out base hit to drive home Brannigan.
Southern regained the lead in the top of the seventh with a 3-run rally to make it 7-4. The Tornadoes got three hits in the inning — two of those being infield hits off bunts. They also capitalized on two errors by the Bobcats.
The Bobcats were unable to make a late rally the bottom of the seventh. They got just one run in the final frame, as Knapp drove in a run on a double to make it 7-6.
Southern 010 300 3 = 7 5 2
Green 300 010 1 = 5 9 3
K. Michael and G. Thomas. Jon Knapp, Nathaniel Brannigan (7) and Gabe Blevins. W-Michael (IP-7.0, H-9, R-5, ER-3, K-6, BB-1, HBP-0). L-Knapp (IP-6.1, H-5, R-7, ER-6, K-11, BB-4, HBP-1). Brannigan (IP-0.2, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-1). Hitting-Southern: Michael 1-4, Otto RBI, Laudermilt 2-4, Smith 2B 2-RBI, Thomas 1-1; Green: Nathaniel Brannigan 1-3, Blake Smith 2-4, Jon Knapp 2-3 2B 3-RBI, Braxton Conschafsky 1-3 2B RBI, Landon Kimbler 1-3.
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