Dawgs defeat Wildcats, Clinch Final Playoff Spot

By BEN PETET 
Cove Leader-Press 

On Friday night the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs baseball team beat the Temple Wildcats 2-1 in a big district 12-6a game. 
The win for the Dawgs, coupled with Belton defeating Killeen 5-0, secured the fourth and final playoff spot. 
Bryan is the number-one seed with a perfect 14-0 record in district play. Belton is the number-two seed with a 12-2 record in district play. Harker Heights is the number-three seed with a 8-6 record in district play. Copperas Cove is the number-four seed with a 7-7 record in district play.
David Cimmino got the start for the Dawgs and pitched a complete game for the win. 
Cimmino had 10 strikeouts, gave up two walks, and allowed one run in the game. The senior also led the Dawgs at the plate going 2-3 with two doubles and a RBI.
In the top half of the first inning Cimmino had a 1-2-3 inning on only six pitches. In the home half of the first inning Cimmino, led off with a double to left field on the first pitch he saw. Travis Sanders followed with a walk to put runners on first and second base with no outs. Temple starting pitcher Isaac Ramos settled down and got the next three Dawgs out to end the first inning scoreless.
In the top of the second inning, Aric Hickman led off with a single to left field and moved to second base on a passed ball. Cimmino then had three straight strikeouts to end the top half of the second inning. In the home half of the second inning Ramos had a 1-2-3 inning to keep the game scoreless after two innings.
In the top half of the third inning, Cimmino started with two strikeouts giving him five straight before Ramos hit a grounder to Dawg second baseman Blaine Butler who made the throw to Dawg first baseman Gabe Chapman to retire the side in order. In the home half of the third inning Ramos had a 1-2-3 inning with three fly balls to center fielder Kobe Smith to keep the game scoreless after three innings.
In the top half of the fourth inning, Nate Mitchell had a one-out double to left center to get a runner in scoring position for the Wildcats. After a passed ball moved Mitchell to third base, Lezlie Jackson had a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate Mitchell and give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. In the home half of the fourth inning Ramos worked around a one out, two base error to keep the score 1-0 for the Wildcats after four innings.
In the top half of the fifth inning Cimmino had another 1-2-3 inning to keep the score at 1-0 for Temple heading to the home half of the fifth inning. Manuel Chaco Led off the home half of the inning with a single to right field. Cody Lingo came in to courtesy run for the catcher Chaco and moved to second base on a John Garcia Leon one-out walk to put runners on first and second base with Cimmino coming to the plate. Cimmino hit a shot to deep left field that plated Lingo for a RBI double. Garcia Leon moved to third base on the hit, putting runners in second and third with Sanders coming to the plate. The Wildcats chose not to pitch to Sanders and gave him an intentional walk to load the bases with one out. Ramos got Chapman to strikeout swinging for the second out of the inning. Caden Harris then came to the plate with the bases still loaded and two outs. Harris had a great at bat, after falling behind in the count he kept fouling off pitches and worked the count full. Ramos missed high on a pitch on the outside part of the plate and Harris drew a RBI walk to plate Garcia Leon with the go ahead run making the score 2-1 for the Dawgs after five innings.
In the top of the sixth inning Cimmino issued a lead=off walk to Temple catcher Anthony Ramos. Dawgs coach Daniel Carrillo went to the mound to have a talk with Cimmino. Coach Carrillo left Cimmino in the game with leadoff hitter Isaac Ramos coming to the plate. The Wildcats put in a courtesy runner Nyles Moreland to run for the catcher A. Ramos. Cimmino made a great move to first base to pick off Moreland and record the first out of the inning. Johnny Donoso drew a two-out walk and stole second base to put a runner in scoring position for Mitchell. Cimmino got Mitchell to strike out, swinging to end the threat and close out the top of the sixth inning. In the home half of the sixth inning. I. Ramos started with two quick outs but pinch hitter Braxton Ramsey had a two out single up the middle and moved to second base on a wild pitch. I. Ramos got pinch hitter Lingo to ground out to second baseman Matt McDonald to close out the sixth inning with the score 2-1 for the Dawgs.
In the top of the seventh inning Jackson had a one-out single to right field and moved to second with a stolen base. Evan Machaca flew out to shallow center field for the second out of the inning. McDonald hit a hard shot back to the mound that Cimmino was able to grab and make the throw to Chapman at first base to end the game and put the Dawgs into the state playoffs.
“I’m just happy for all of the players, they deserved it for everything that has happened this year on and off of the field,” said Coach Carrillo after the game. “The first inning was frustrating with two on and no outs and not being able to score but I had to practice what I preach and keep playing for 21 outs, keep playing and keep your composure.” 
When asked if the play of the game was the pick=off in the sixth inning, coach said, “David made a great pick off move and Chap did a great job putting the tag down. 
That just shows that you have to continue to play and see what happens. We get to play another week and it will be fun whoever we play.”
The Dawgs will play the Waco Midway Panthers in the bi-district round of the playoffs. First pitch is Thursday, 7 p.m. at Waco Midway. 
Game two is scheduled for Friday May, 6 at Bulldawg Field at 7:30 p.m. with a game 3 (if needed) at UMHB with a first pitch of 1 p.m.