Cooter Wildcats win fall Tri-County championship

The Cooter Wildcats recently won the 2017 Tri-County Conference championship.

The Cooter Wildcats (18-1) won the 2017 Tri-County Conference fall championship game on their home field Wednesday, Sept. 20, defeating the Holcomb Hornets 10-0 in five innings of play. Wildcat ace hurler Dawson Treat threw a no-hitter to lead Cooter to the championship trophy presentation by Wildcats’ announcer, Glenda O’Kane. Christian Gunnels paced the ‘Cats in the batter’s box with a double and single. Smacking a hit each were Treat, Lane McLevain, Dalton Barron and Zach Pendergrass. On the mound, Treat struck out eight.

In Cooter’s championship win over Holcomb, Dawson Treat pitched a no-hitter for the Wildcats.

In semifinals action Tuesday, Sept. 19, the ‘Cats beat Delta C-7 15-0 in three innings. Leading the Wildcats at the plate were Jacob Watkins and Zach Pendergrass with a double and single each. Scattering two singles apiece were Dawson Treat and Lane McLevain. Other Wildcat hitters were Christian Gunnels, Dylan Smelley and Bronson Wicker. Preston Hatch pitched the entire three innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit.

Back on Thursday, Sept. 14, Cooter defeated Campbell 11-1. In the batter’s box, Dawson Treat paced Cooter with three hits, including a double. Dylan Smelley ripped a double, while Christian Gunnels, Jacob Watkins, Layton Robinson and Hayes Austin all had one hit each for the ‘Cats. On the mound, Treat pitched four innings of no-hit ball, fanning four batters. Smelley served as closer for the final two frames. He struck out four and allowed one earned run off three hits.

Christian Gunnels had two hits in Cooter’s championship win.

Cooter soundly beat Van Buren Saturday, Sept. 16 by a score of 8-0. Leading the Wildcats’ hitting attack with three hits was Christian Gunnels, as Chris Crowder slugged a pair of hits. Layton Robinson and Hayes Austin belted a double apiece, while Jacob Watkins and Zach Pendergrass added a single each for Cooter. On the hill, Dawson Treat went the distance for the ‘Cats, recording a no-hitter and striking out six.

In Cooter’s second game of the day on Sept. 16, the Wildcats defeated Winona 10-1. Pacing Cooter at the plate with a double and single was Dylan Smelley. Jacob Watkins swatted a pair of singles, and Layton Robinson blasted a double. Contributing one hit apiece were Lane McLevain, Christian Gunnels, Chris Crowder, Zach Pendergrass and Dalton Barron. Smelley pitched 5 1/3 innings, fanning eight batters and not giving up a hit. Preston Hatch closed the final 2/3 innings, and did not allow a hit or earned run.