WOODLAWN - For more than four innings, the Rison Wildcats were giving the topranked Woodlawn Bears all they wanted. But the Bears' Jase Bishop blasted a grand slam homerun with two out in the fifth to break the game open and Woodlawn pulled away from there for a 15-2 victory.
While it was officially a home game for Rison, the game itself was played at Woodlawn Saturday afternoon due to wet field conditions at Wildcat Field. The game was originally scheduled for Friday but was postponed to Saturday due to rain.
Woodlawn's victory clinched the outright 8-2A conference championship for the Bears.
While the final ended up being a lopsided score, the game certainly did not play out that way over the first four innings. Rison starting pitcher Brock Southerland held the potent Woodlawn offense in check through the first four innings as the Bears' first hit did not come until Jayden Wilmoth singled in the fourth.
Woodlawn grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Dylan Butler was hit by a pitched to start the frame, advanced to second on a walk and then scored on Austin Howard's fielder's choice.
That lead didn't last long as the Wildcats went in front in the bottom of the second.
Owen Morrison drew a walk to start the inning before Matthew Howard followed with a single that advanced the runners to second and third after the Bears had an error trying to make a play at first. Andrew Couture then delivered a line drive single into center scoring Morrison and Howard to put the Wildcats up 2-1.
Woodlawn drew even in the top of the fourth when Wilmoth led off with a single and Butler reached on an error. After a fly ball for the first out, courtesy runner Ryan Rutledge was picked off trying to steal third. Hall then singled to drive in one run but Howard was then called out at home trying to squeeze out a second run on Hall's hit.
Morrison singled to start the bottom of the fourth for Rison...
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