BOGUE CHITTO – Senior left-hander Eric Watkins had just whatLake coach Brian Goodman wanted Thursday night.

Watkins (5-2) used his outside curve ball to keep the BogueChitto Bobcats guessing for the first few innings as the GreenHornets escaped with a 5-2 win in the first round of the StateClass 1A State Baseball Playoffs.

The second game of the best-of-three series returns to Laketonight with a 7 p.m. start. If Bogue Chitto wins, the Bobcatswould host the Green Hornets Saturday at 1.

Lake, the defending Class 1A State Champs, improved to 21-2 withthe win, and Bogue Chitto fell o 12-6 with the loss.

“He (Watkins) has been consistent for us all year,” saidGoodman. “We came down here wanting to win.”

Lake went up 2-0 over Bogue Chitto in the top of the firstinning. With two out, shortstop Jake Nester singled and catcherCraig Martin doubled and stole third base to score Nester fromsecond for a 1-0 lead. Bryan Williamson struck out, but reachedfirst base when Bogue Chitto first baseman Eric Johnston droppedthe throw from catcher Nathan Cutrer as Martin scored from thirdfor the 2-0 lead.

The Bobcats scored their first run of the game in the bottom ofthe fourth. Johnathan Cutrer singled. With two out, twin brotherNathan Cutrer singled to score Johnathan from second, cutting thedeficit to 2-1.

In the top of the sixth, Lake did its final damage of the game,scoring three runs to go up 5-1. Watkins blooped one over theinfield to score Nester from third for a 3-1 lead. With the basesloaded, Eric Dunn singled to score Martin to push the Lake lead to4-1. Jason McGee ripped a hard single down the third base line toscore Williamson for the 5-1 lead.

Nathan Cutrer took a terrible hit while tagging out a Lakerunner at home plate in the sixth inning. The player collided withCutrer, sailed over him as Cutrer hit the ground face first(without his mask). Less than a minute later, he was up and backbehind the plate.

In the bottom of the seventh, left fielder Cody Wallace singledto score Leggett who had stolen second and third base and cut thedeficit to 5-2 before Lake got the final two batters out andsecured the win.

Bogue Chitto head coach Mike Hodges credited Lake and Watkinswith sticking to a good game plan.

“Their pitcher had good control,” said Hodges. “He tried to getus to strike at the pitch out of the zone. We did it for a fewinnings. He had some real good stuff. We hit the ball right attheir players.”

Watkins allowed 2 runs on 7 hits, struck out 8 batters andwalked 2 batters for the win. Leggett (5-4) allowed 5 runs on 7hits, struck out 8 batters, walked 2 and hit 1 batter.

“We’ll do the things that got us here,” said Hodges abouttonight’s must-win game at Lake.

Goodman said he would pitch his ace tonight and has a lot ofrespect for the Bogue Chitto batters. “They can swing thosebats.”

@Bbstandings:LAKE 5, BOGUE CHITTO 2

Lake

200

003

0

–

5

7

2

Bogue Chitto

000

100

1

–

2

7

2

@Bbstandings: Watkins and Martin; Leggett and N. Cutrer.WP – Watkins (5-2). LP – Leggett (5-4). 2B – Nester (L),Martin (L). Multiple hits – Nester (L) 2, J. Cutrer (BC)2.