FOREST – Six errors and an 8-7 loss is what kept the FranklinCounty Bulldogs from advancing any further than the first round forthe second straight this season as the Bulldogs got upset by asteady, defensive minded, Forest Bearcat team Saturdayafternoon.

The Bearcats (18-8) seemed confident at first as each of theirplayers entered the hot, humid field upbeat and cool about thefinal game of the best of three series. The Bearcats continuedtheir Zumbro plan by gaining three allowing him three walks. TheBearcats walked Zumbro 12 times in the three game series.

The Bulldogs (12-11) however, had other plans as senior ColeZumbro and sophomore Colby Beach scored off a Vance Windom doublefor a overwhelming 2-0 lead. Bulldog junior pitcher Richard Kingsturn came next as he struck out two Bearcat batters to force a popup to first basemen Kyle Trout.

After Bearcat senior Drew Kenna held the Dawgs in check in thetop of the second, the Bearcats bat awoke and Bulldog bad luckcharm of errors came back.

The Bearcats took off with a Kenna double that sent MattReynolds and Paul Brown home for the 2-2 deadlock. After threestraight Bulldog errors, the Bearcats led 5-2. The Bearcats kepttheir defensive momentum up in the third and fourth inning as Kennacollected strikeouts and grounders. At the plate, the Bearcats usedmultiple Bulldog errors to ease to a 8-2 lead.

The Bulldogs responded with a two run fifth highlighted by aWindom two run single that scored Zumbro and junior Cliff Herring.After a Bulldog pitching change from King to Beach. The Bulldogsadded two more runs in the top half of the sixth for a 8-6 deficit.The two run sixth included a Colby Beach triple that scored ClintHerring and senior third basemen Gregg Williams.

After Beach quieted the Dawgs with a set of strikeouts and a popup out by Trout, the Bulldogs entered the seventh trailing 8-6. TheDawgs quickly used a Kyle Trout double, that scored Zumbro and sentWindom to third with the game tieing run in place with two outs andtwo runners on base.

Bearcat senior pitcher Mario Thomas wouldn’t let the Bulldogssee daylight as he ended the Bulldogs playoff hopes by striking outthe last remaining Bulldog batter in junior catcher Bert Smith.

“We started playing real baseball these last two games, saidBulldog head coach Johnny Monroe. “We came together as a teamfinally. This one’s going to hurt our seniors alot more than ouryounger players.

Gaining the win for the Bearcats was Kenna (5-1) with twostrikeouts and four walks in six innings of action. Thomas got thesave in the seventh with two stikeouts and on walk.

Suffering the loss for the Dawgs, was King (0-1) with fourstrikeouts and three walks in four innings of work. Beach finishedthe game with five strikeouts and one walk.

At the plate Trey Clark and Drew Chance led the Bearcats with asingle and a double. Kenna and Brown also gained a double with onestolen base.

For the Dawgs, Beach led with two singles and a triple. Windomwas second with two singles and a double. Clint Herring finishedwith two singles and one stolen base.

With the loss the Dawgs end the season 12-11. It was a seasonthat featured many ups and downs for the Dawgs, but still a seasonfar better than what could have been after a midseason slump.